Jordan Poole is back-and while he’s still finding his rhythm from deep, there’s no denying the jolt he’s given the Pelicans since returning from a nagging quadriceps strain that kept him sidelined for 18 games.
For nearly five weeks, Poole was more observer than playmaker, often seen courtside in street clothes, dribbling a basketball during timeouts-itching to get back on the floor. And he didn’t hide how tough that stretch was.
“I didn’t like it,” Poole said bluntly. “I didn’t like it at all. But I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Now, two games into his return-against Portland and Chicago-Poole is once again making his presence felt. The Pelicans are 2-0 since he rejoined the lineup, and if you stretch it back to his last game before the injury, they’re 3-0 in the last three games he’s suited up for. That early-November win over Charlotte marked his final appearance before the quad issue flared up.
What’s more, Poole revealed he wasn’t even fully healthy during the first seven games of the season. He was playing through discomfort, trying to manage the injury before it ultimately forced him to the sidelines.
“It’s one of those things where no matter what I did or no matter what treatment or recovery work that I did, the injury itself just needed time,” Poole explained. “I was basically doing 24 hours around the clock of treatment and recovery... But also pushing myself that when I come back, I’m able to make an impact.”
And so far, he has. Poole dropped 22 points against the Trail Blazers and followed that with 16 against the Bulls.
He came off the bench in both games-just like he did in three of the seven games to start the year-but his impact has been anything but reserved. The explosiveness, the confidence, the edge-it’s all still there.
Since arriving in New Orleans as part of the CJ McCollum trade this offseason, Poole’s been averaging 17.7 points and 3.4 assists over nine games. Those numbers don’t just tell the story of a scorer-they show a player who’s learning how to operate within a new system while still being himself.
“He's just a savvy scorer,” said interim head coach James Borrego. “He just knows how to score.
Gets to the free-throw line. Gets downhill.
Makes plays. Steadies the gym when it needs to be steadied.
He keeps constant pressure on the defense. You can just feel him out there.
He’s always live.”
And that energy? It’s contagious. Midway through the fourth quarter against Portland, Poole finished a layup and immediately turned to the crowd, waving his arms, shouting, urging them to rise with him.
“I’ve always been that type of player,” Poole said. “I know how important it is to have the crowd on our side.
I know how important it is to have them engaged. We have fans who love to watch hoops.
Obviously, we have to give them something to cheer for. It’s a two-way street.”
While his return has been a boost, Poole’s still working to get his perimeter shot back in sync. He’s 5-of-20 from beyond the arc in his two games back-a cold stretch for a player known for his deep range. But even when the jumper isn’t falling, he’s finding ways to contribute.
“I think just his overall impact on the game is tremendous,” Borrego said. “He can go on a big run by himself.
He can turn a two-point game into a six-point or eight-point game quickly on both ends of the floor. He’s coming with the right mentality.
He’s not trying to force it. He’s trying to play within our system and be a team guy and that’s what we need.”
That mindset-balancing individual flair with team flow-is exactly what the Pelicans have needed from Poole. And for Poole, just being back on the court again is a win in itself.
“It was the first time in my career that I sat out that many games,” he said. “I’m back.”
And if these last few games are any indication, he’s not just back-he’s ready to make up for lost time.