After a brutal 3-22 start to the season, the Pelicans have finally found a spark - and that spark looks a lot like Jordan Poole. Since returning from an 18-game absence due to a quad strain, Poole has helped New Orleans go 2-0, and while it’s early, the impact is hard to ignore.
Poole’s return marks the end of the longest injury layoff of his NBA career, and he admitted the process wasn’t easy. “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 said. “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 impact he has. Coming off the bench in both games - Thursday against Portland and Sunday in Chicago - Poole dropped a combined 38 points and dished out seven assists.
More importantly, the Pelicans outscored their opponents by 19 points during his 53 minutes on the floor. That kind of two-way efficiency is exactly what this team has been missing.
Interim head coach James Borrego didn’t hold back in his praise. “He’s a savvy scorer,” 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.”
Borrego also emphasized Poole’s mindset, noting he’s not trying to do too much or hijack the offense - he’s playing within the system and making smart decisions.
That’s a key point. Poole has never lacked confidence or scoring ability, but what’s standing out right now is his maturity.
He’s picking his spots, staying within the flow of the offense, and still managing to put pressure on defenses. For a Pelicans team desperate for rhythm and consistency, that’s a welcome development.
Around the Southwest Division:
In Dallas, Cooper Flagg continues to look more like the real deal with every game. The No. 1 overall pick made history on Monday night, becoming the first 18-year-old in NBA history to score 40 or more points in a single game.
He finished with 42 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in an overtime loss to Utah - a performance that felt less like a breakout and more like a warning shot to the rest of the league. And here’s the kicker: he turns 19 this Sunday.
Flagg’s poise and polish are rare for a rookie, let alone one who’s not even out of his teens. The Mavericks may have landed a generational talent, and while the team is still figuring things out, Flagg is already proving he can carry a heavy load.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama played Tuesday’s NBA Cup Final under emotional circumstances. The 21-year-old was mourning the loss of his grandmother, who passed away earlier that day.
Wembanyama addressed the media briefly postgame, saying, “I just lost somebody today,” before exiting with a team staffer. It was a somber moment for a young star who’s already dealt with plenty of pressure and expectation early in his career.
The Spurs, who came up short in the Cup Final against New York, are choosing to view the tournament experience as a valuable stepping stone. And there’s reason to believe that mindset could pay dividends down the line.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN raised an interesting point: could success in the NBA Cup be a precursor to playoff success? The Pacers reached the conference finals and then the NBA Finals after losing the 2023 Cup.
The Thunder followed a similar path in 2024, winning the title after finishing as Cup runners-up. It’s not a guarantee, but the pattern is hard to ignore.
San Antonio’s young core is buying in. Rookie guard Dylan Harper summed it up well: “Sky is the limit.
It’s our second game with a healthy roster. It’s nothing to overreact about… To be on this side is definitely a good learning experience.
It teaches us a lot about ourselves, and it’s good that we have a whole lot of room to grow knowing what we have done up to this point.”
In a division loaded with young stars and evolving rosters, the Pelicans, Mavericks, and Spurs are all navigating different stages of development. But with Poole back in rhythm, Flagg rewriting the rookie record books, and Wembanyama leading with grace and grit, the Southwest is shaping up to be one of the most compelling divisions in the league.