The series between Memphis and Golden State is marked by a particularly high level of hardness and intensity. We have in mind the ugly gestures of Draymond Green on one side and Dillon Brooks on the other, the injuries of Gary Payton Jr and Ja Morant, or the expulsion of Kyle Anderson.
To ease tensions, Jordan Poole et Years Jackson Jr are there to hide in the middle of a match. Like when the back of the Warriors challenges JJJ by throwing at him: “Stop making mistakes! You can’t stay on the ground! », causing the smile from within. Or when the Memphis player comes to the defense of Jordan Poole following the incident with Ja Morant, assuring that he is not a bad guy.
From the shadow to the light “
Because before making a name for themselves in the NBA, the two players have indeed cut their teeth under the same jersey, within the Prep School “La Lumière” in Indiana. The fact of finding themselves today at the highest level, even as adversaries, represents a great consecration for the two players.
“We’ve been talking about it forever”said Jaren Jackson Jr. “We used to joke about it and because he didn’t really like defending, we figured the Warriors would be the team he would be the best on.”
And Jordan Poole to confirm the tandem’s dreams of grandeur at the time of “LaLu”. “We knew we were going to reach the NBA. We had no idea that we would be together in the Western Conference, let alone play face to face in the playoffs. But, as cliché as it may sound, we dreamed of it”.
During their season at La Lumiere, their team had won 29 games out of 30 and won the national title against Montverde Academy led by RJ Barrett in the final. “We were a bit of a “cheat code” at the time”, remembers Jordan Poole.
Endless one-on-one sessions to improve
Legend has it that the two players regularly ignored the curfew set at 8:30 p.m. to force the door of the gymnasium and compete in one-on-one until the end of the night. It is in these night sessions that the two players have reached a milestone.
For Jordan Poole, these sessions even represented ” the climax “ of his basketball career.
“LaLu, it was nowhere. It was a culture shock. The only thing we had to do was play basketball because we were bored. We couldn’t drive or go anywhere on campus. When we were tired, we went home, we went to bed to start again the next day.he continued. “Jaren is the main reason my finishing game is so strong. We were playing one-on-one, and when I figured out how to score against bigger, more athletic opponents, he was the perfect prototype.”
For the coach at the time, Shane Heirman, these clandestine sessions actually bore fruit later on, boosting their creativity… first on the pitch, but also to gain access to the gym!
“The place was double-locked, and you had to be very resourceful to get in”he remembers with a touch of humor. “Their ability to compete, to have fun, and they both have amazing personalities. Every day they brought crazy energy to the pitch.”
In 2017, Jordan Poole continued his rise at Michigan while Jaren Jackson Jr. hit the road at nemesis Michigan State. Five years later, here they are once again propelled from friend to foe, reminding Jaren Jackson Jr. of their mad oppositions, except that these are now in… the light.
“He always does the same things. I’m just trying to make it difficult for him. He’s become a much better player than he was back then.”could not help slipping JJJ, determined to compete on the field without forgetting to chamber his former teammate.