Firstround draft pick finds 3point shot not yet on target
LAS VEGAS — For three weeks after his final season at Michigan ended, Jordan Poole missed almost every 3pointer he attempted.
To get accustomed to the NBA 3point line, he went through three shooting workouts a day, only to hear the repeated clang of the rim. Then, one day in late April, Poole finally stopped pushing the ball.
“After you get adjusted,” Poole said, “it’s pretty easy.”
If his showing so far in summer leagues has been any indicator, Poole is still getting comfortable. After shooting a combined 4for20 from the field (1for11 from 3point range) in two games at the California Classic in Sacramento, he went 6for19 from the field (3for14 from 3point range) in Friday’s 9385 loss to Charlotte in Las Vegas, putting his total 3point shooting clip at 16%.
That’s a troubling number for someone who was drafted No. 28 overall last month largely for his shotmaking ability. Given that he’s considered a middling defender and passer, Poole will depend on hitting jumpers to stay on the court this season.
With Klay Thompson expected to miss the start of next season with an ACL injury, the Warriors — a team that hastened the NBA’s 3point revolution — are suddenly light on floorspacers. Poole, in theory, should offer Golden State another 3point threat.
After twoplus months finetuning his NBA range, Poole wowed at two predraft workouts with Golden State. This was a big reason the Warriors used their only firstround pick on a player who had widely been projected to go in the second round.
The good news for Golden State is that Poole’s mechanics haven’t been an issue in the summer leagues. With another game Saturday night against Toronto, Aaron Miles, the Warriors’ summer league coach, hopes to see Poole improve his shot selection.
Poole got off to a hot start Friday, which emboldened him to take numerous questionable shots. His plusminus in 29 minutes was a minus22.
“We want them all to have confidence shooting the basketball, but shot selection is critical,” Miles said. “We’ve talked to all the guys about not taking unnecessary shots, and he had quite a few of them today. He made a couple early, but he has to be mindful of those — understanding good shot, bad shot.” Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle. com Twitter: @Con_Chron