Milwaukee grown: Warriors’ Looney, Poole share special bond with hometown roots

SAN FRANCISCO – Jordan Poole stood behind a TV digital camera Friday evening and proudly watched as Kevon Looney gave a postgame interview following a career-best efficiency in Recreation 2 of the Western Convention finals that earned the Warriors middle some well-deserved reward.

On the finish of the interview, Poole enthusiastically congratulated his “large bro Loon.”

“The little child in me is so excited, so excited,” an elated Poole mentioned after the heartwarming interplay. “I grew up watching Loon, performed in opposition to him and to see him do that on the very best stage is simply wonderful to be a part of.

“I don’t suppose folks perceive how arduous it’s alone simply to be right here, and simply seeing the skilled that he’s, the way in which that he performs, his grit each single day… I’m so pleased for him.”

Looney and Poole are 4 years aside however share a particular bond being from Milwaukee, a humble metropolis recognized for its brews, cheese and butter burgers. The blue-collar values of their hometown have closely influenced the way in which Looney and Poole carry themselves each as folks and basketball gamers.

Poole has seemed as much as Looney – actually and figuratively – as a youth with large basketball goals.

Looney was a prime recruit of the 2014 class and performed one season at UCLA earlier than the Warriors picked him thirtieth total within the NBA 2015 Draft. Poole wasn’t as extremely touted of a recruit out of highschool, however nonetheless a notable native standout which earned him the chance to play at Michigan.

Whereas the 2 didn’t play with each other rising up — their paths had crossed on the court docket a minimum of as soon as, in keeping with Poole — the Milwaukeeans had been united in 2019 when the Warriors picked Poole twenty eighth total in that summer season’s draft.

Each have had winding careers within the NBA up to now. Looney handled a sequence of accidents that restricted him to simply 58 video games in his first two seasons. This 12 months, he performed the complete 82-game slate, making him one in every of solely 5 NBA gamers to perform that feat.

In the meantime, Poole had been demoted to the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz final season to develop his sport.

However their work ethic, typically praised by coach Steve Kerr and their teammates, and willingness to just accept no matter position is assigned to them helped them stay within the league and get to the place they’re now as they’re two integral items within the Warriors’ chase for a fourth title in eight years.

Looney had an enormous second half breakout, stepping up instead of Draymond Inexperienced to assist the Warriors’ win and take a 2-0 sequence lead over the Mavericks. He completed with a career-high 21 factors and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the postseason. It was an encore efficiency of kinds from Recreation 6 of the convention semifinals, when Looney grabbed 22 rebounds within the Warriors’ series-clinching win over the Grizzlies.

Poole, one of many NBA’s largest breakout stars of the season, additionally had a giant sport Friday, going 7-for-10 for 23 factors in 29 minutes off the bench. He dished out 5 assists and added two steals. In his first postseason, Poole is averaging 19.5 factors and 4.7 assists in 30.5 minutes primarily coming off the bench.

“Me and JP, it’s at all times enjoyable,” Looney mentioned. “Us being from the identical metropolis, to play on a stage like this and have these moments, it’s at all times cool. Simply to know rising up, I’d by no means envision I’d play with any individual from my metropolis within the Western Convention finals. Moments like that I cherish.”

The sensation is mutual.

”I really like enjoying with Loon,” Poole mentioned. “I performed in opposition to him after I was younger, and he had 40, so I’d slightly be on his staff.”