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Steve Kerr Has High Hopes for Jordan Bell; Sees Draymond Green in Him
When the Golden State Warriors swapped $3.5 million for 38th overall pick and Oregon forward Jordan Bell with Chicago during the 2017 NBA Draft, the team, as well as the fans knew they made the right decision.
Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, Bell averaged 10.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game in his junior season and was feared in the paint amongst college opponents. A versatile defensive specialist, he drew comparisons to Golden State Warriors all-star forward Draymond Green, and this season, Green has taken Bell under his wing.
Head coach Steve Kerr has high hopes for the 22-year-old rookie and also sees traces of Draymond Green in his style of play.
“Jordan Bell is doing really well. He’s coming along. He’s learning a lot from Draymond [Green],” said Kerr. “He’s playing a similar style, guarding everybody on the floor. That’s kind of how the NBA works these days, you have to be able to guard big guys and guards, and that kind of versatility is really key for us. I don’t know if he can ever become Draymond Green, but he’s definitely on his way to becoming a very good player.”
Throughout 25 games with Golden State, Bell is averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in just 12.9 minutes per game. Bell is still finding his niche with the team and has been utilized in late-game situations a number of times. On December 1, 2017, Bell caught fire for a career-high 16 points on 8/10 shooting in 16 minutes of play against the Orlando Magic in a 133-112 victory.
