LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chris Paul worked out with fellow newcomer Stephen Curry in Atlanta Sunday morning before flying to Las Vegas. His rating for the session: They didn’t miss a lot of shots.
Paul’s time with the Golden State Warriors is clearly off to a great start.
The veteran base revealed more than a few things in his first official interview session as a member of the Warriors: He’s not ready to admit that he’s no longer a regular starter, and he doesn’t expect this to be his last season as a performer. A player and he draws the same joy from the game now as he did when he was a kid.
And as for how it all fits together, this shouldn’t be expected to be an issue.
“I don’t like to sound crazy or otherwise, but at the end of the day, it’s basketball,” Paul said. “You know, this is not brain surgery. I’m in a situation with a group of guys who’ve been playing together for a long time.”
Paul has been traded twice this summer, first from Phoenix to Washington as part of a move that sent Bradley Bell to the Suns, and then again to Golden State as part of a move that sent Jordan Paul to the Wizards.
It’s a move the Warriors hope will lead to short- and long-term gains. The 38-year-old Paul can still play; The 12-time All-Star averaged 13.9 points and 8.9 assists last season for Phoenix, still going into his 18th season in the league.
He is also not under contract beyond the next season. Paul enters into a four-year deal; The big-spending Warriors were unable to keep all of their highest-paid players together due to the limitations of the new collective bargaining agreement.
“I was fortunate enough to play on three All-American teams, 2006, 2008 and 2012,” said Paul. “It’s high IQ basketball, the guys who play read and whatnot, and what you learn is you discover it. Everyone doesn’t have the answers now. We’re going to practice, I’m sure there’s going to be some things I have to learn, some things they have to learn.” About me, but that’s the case with any team.”
He appeared in 1,214 regular season games and another 149 in the playoffs, starting every single one of them. But it is clear that he is unlikely to replace guards Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson in the starting lineup at Golden State.
So, at 38 years old and about to enter his 19th season in the NBA, Paul could find himself in a new position. But there’s an obvious trade-off, as the Warriors will certainly be considered title contenders next season after winning four championships in the past decade — and Paul never got his championship. He went to the NBA Finals with Phoenix in 2021, but the Suns blew a 2-0 series lead and lost to Milwaukee in six games.
“It’s going to be a conversation for us when camp starts. I think we’ll figure all these things out,” Paul said.
The history of Paul and the warriors has long been intertwined. Paul scored more points against Golden State than any other team – 1,172, which is 14 more points than he scored against the Los Angeles Lakers. He made 18 playoff appearances against them, drawing his most against any opponent; He also played against San Antonio 18 times in the postseason.
Among active players, including playoffs, no one has played more games or delivered more assists against the Warriors than Paul, and LeBron James and James Harden are the only active players with more points against Golden State.
And there’s the history Paul probably wants to forget, how the Warriors thwarted two of his best shots of the tournament. In 2018, Paul and the Houston Rockets went 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals before getting hurt, missing the last two games, and Golden State winning — en route to an NBA title. And in 2019, the Warriors beat Paul and the Rockets again, this time in the Western Semifinals before eventually losing to Toronto in the NBA Finals.
He said even his family can’t believe he’s with the Warriors now.
“It is what it is,” said Paul. “Sports.”
The Warriors will seek a fifth title in 10 years next season, and Paul has yet to win a ring. But when asked if this is his only motivation for continuing to play, Paul insists he still loves the game – and intends to keep playing for several years.
“I get a chance to play basketball every day and say, ‘This is my way of life,’” Paul said. “So you say, ‘Why would I do that?’ For the same reason I did it when I was 4 or 5 years old. you know what i mean? I wouldn’t spend time training, working out, and being away from my family if I didn’t like it. This has not changed.”
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