SAN FRANCISCO — Chris Paul showcased his skills as he faced off against his former teammate, the towering Jusuf Nurkic. With a quick burst of speed, Paul maneuvered around the 6-foot-11 center and headed straight for the basket.
He gracefully evaded Josh Okogie and made an impressive layin, drawing contact in the process. The crowd erupted in chants of “CP3!” as he made his way to the free throw line.
This unexpected scene was a testament to Paul’s unique journey with his new team and its fan base.
Paul expressed his amusement, saying, “I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a first.”
In his inaugural game as a Warrior, Paul put up 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting, along with nine assists and six rebounds in Golden State‘s season-opening 108-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Paul expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m really thrilled. We had some great moments tonight, along with some areas to improve on. The freedom to take pull-up 3s, especially when playing alongside incredible shooters like Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson], creates more space for us out there.”
Although Paul’s history with the Golden State franchise, particularly during his time with the LA Clippers, might seem unexpected, it has its benefits on the court.
One play, in particular, stood out to Paul as a demonstration of his compatibility with the team: he executed a ball screen, passed the ball to the top, and quickly ran to the corner for an open 3-pointer.
He looked at Steph and remarked, “That’s your s—. That’s what he usually does. We’ve played against each other so many times that we know how to complement each other.”
The Warriors are grateful to have aspects of Paul’s game that contribute to their success, such as his ability to draw fouls, as seen when he enticed Devin Booker to commit a foul, putting Golden State in the bonus in the third quarter.
Last year, Paul even managed to bait Jonathan Kuminga into fouling him 90 feet away from the basket.
Curry commented, “We’ve joked about it a lot already. Obviously, it’s about smart basketball and playing the game. But it’s a relief to have him on our team and not have to rely on the referees for calls. He’s on our squad now.”
Beyond those moments of familiarity, Paul’s impact on the Warriors is evident.
According to a source, Paul’s main role will be leading the second unit, whether as a starter or not. This was evident in the Warriors’ dominant third quarter, where they outscored the Suns 40-19. Paul contributed 10 points during that quarter.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Paul’s skills, saying, “Chris is an incredible player. He controls the game, makes crucial shots when needed, and provides nine assists. He adds a different dimension to our team. We will work on optimizing our strategies and actions with him. He’s just a great player.”
Having Paul on the floor with the second unit is expected to reduce turnovers, as seen in the season opener where the Warriors committed only 11 miscues, compared to their 18.2 average in the preseason. His presence also brings organization to lineups consisting of younger players.
Curry expressed trust in Paul’s decision-making, stating, “It’s who he is as a player — he understands momentum and the flow of the game. As a point guard, he knows when to push or calm it down and which play to call. We all
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