Stephen Curry’s Talented Teammate Reveals How Aaron Judge Inspired Him After Mammoth $140 Million Contract Extension

For a pro athlete, the pressure to perform can feel like a ten-ton weight on their shoulders. And when they sign a massive contract, that weight can get even heavier. So, where do the younger players turn when the heat is on and they need a little inspiration? 

When Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors signed his 4-year, $140 million extension with the Golden State Warriors, the weight of expectations began to bear down on him like never before. But instead of letting the pressure get the best of him, Poole turned to an unexpected source of inspiration. Aaron Judge, captain of the New York Yankees and a veteran both on and off the field. Judge is the epitome of class and stability and who better to turn to while in a pinch? 

Aaron Judge’s mentality has resonated with Jordan Poole 

Instead of buckling under the pressure of his massive contract, Poole turns to Judge’s mentality for guidance. The point guard had read an interview with Aaron Judge in which the baseball phenom was asked if he felt any different after signing his own humongous contract. Judge’s response was simple: he was going to keep doing what he had always done because that was what had gotten him where he was. It was the frame of mind that resonated deeply with Poole, and one that he quickly adopted as his own. 

In his own words, “I read that Aaron Judge was asked if he has a different role after he signed his big contract,” Poole said in an interview for the NBA. “He said he’s going to keep doing what he did to get that. That’s what got him there. So why change that? That’s the approach I take.” 

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His excellence in the hard court landed him the deal, so why change that? And Poole certainly has remained unfazed. He sees the extension as an opportunity, not a burden. “I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s pressure,” Poole said. “If anything, it’s more exciting to know I’m locked into the Bay for the next five [years]. We can go through the highs and lows of whatever it is. I embrace that.”

The point guard is worthy of that $140 million contract! 

Jordan Poole was the Golden State Warriors’ phenomenal star during the 2021-22 season. With an impressive average of 18.5 points per game, he proved to be a reliable presence as a point guard for the team, especially in the face of injuries. 

And just recently the athlete showed the team can rely on him even when Steph Curry is out recovering from an injury. Poole in a game at home against the Houston Rockets, channeled his inner Curry and pulled out a long-distance triple right at the buzzer! It’s a no-brainer that the Warriors extended the sensation’s contract!

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