Jordan Poole
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Jordan Poole was listed as questionable on the official injury report for the New Orleans Pelicans' game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, December 11.
TheNew Orleans Pelicans (3-22) have had a season to forget, but they may be getting some good news on the injury front.
Jordan Poole was upgraded to questionable on theofficial injury report ahead of a game against thePortland Trail Blazers on Thursday, December 11. The Michigan product has not played since November 4 against theCharlotte Hornets as he deals with a left quad strain, but it appears he is nearing a return.
Getting Poole back would be a boost for New Orleans. Despite missing most of the season so far, he is still the team’s third-leading scorer. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 35.4% shooting from the field and 33.9% shooting from beyond the arc.
Poole began his NBA career with theGolden State Warriors before beingtraded to theWashington Wizards as part of the deal that sentChris Paul to the 2022 NBA champions. Poole wasacquired by the Pelicans in a trade this summer.
Is Jordan Poole Playing Tonight?
Poole has missed 18 straight games with a left quad strain, but it appears he has moved through his injury recovery in the expected timeframe.
New Orleans provided an update on his condition in mid-November, saying he was progressing well and that the team would provide another update soon. Interim head coach James Borrego told reportersafter practice on Tuesday that Poole participated on a limited basis.
The Pelicans likely will not rush Poole back, especially given where they are in the standings, but if he is feeling ready to play, the guard could get some game action on a minutes restriction Thursday.
The more important thing for Poole and the Pelicans is that he remains healthy going forward. New Orleans will not be contending for a playoff spot this year, and Poole could be a trade asset in the near future, as the Pelicans look to acquire as much draft capital as possible for a rebuild.
New Orleans Pelicans Have Been A Complete Disaster
To say the Pelicans have been in disarray this season would be an understatement. New Orleans started the year with six straight losses and fired its head coach,Willie Green, shortly thereafter.
Earlier this month, former No. 1 overall pickZion Williamson was ruled out indefinitely with aright hip abductor strain. All-Star guardDejounte Murray, whom the Pelicans acquired in atrade with theAtlanta Hawks in June 2024, is still working his way back from aruptured Achilles suffered in January.
The one bright spot for the Pelicans has been the development of rookie centerDerik Queen, who posted the first triple-double of his NBA career against theSan Antonio Spurson Monday, December 8 (30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists). He is thefirst rookie center to have a 30 point triple double.
But even Queen’s emergence comes with a caveat. New Orleanstraded the No. 23 pick in the 2025 draft and an unprotected first-round pick in the 2026 draft to the Hawks in order to select the Maryland product. With the Pelicans headed for maybe the worst record in the NBA this season, the 2026 pick will become a lottery selection.