Dub Nation has four months to accept the idea of Chris Paul in a Warriors jersey before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season.
And like his new fanbase, Paul too is getting used to the shocking turn of events after years of high-profile rivalry with Golden State.
Just days after the blockbuster trade that sent Jordan Poole and other assets to the Washington Wizards for Paul, the new Warriors point guard sat down Monday with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on “NBA Today” to detail how he believes the transition from villain to teammate will work out.
“It happens all the time in this league,” Paul told Andrews. “It’s probably the first time I’ve been in a situation like this, but when you get on the pitch with like-minded guys who like to play the game the same way I like, I’m excited about this.
“It’s always a new process when you go to a new team; I’ve done it a few times now, but I’m really excited about it because these guys know what it’s all about. They’ve been there They won again and again, so I’m happy to be part of that process.”
Prior to their history as on-field rivals, Paul and Warriors star Steph Curry trained together. Curry spent the summer training with Paul in 2009 after being drafted by Golden State, even vacationing together later that summer at Disney World. But after Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers knocked the Warriors out of the NBA playoffs in 2014, Curry came back with a vengeance the following season and set the league on fire — especially Paul’s Clippers.
In 2018, Paul’s fake laugh at Warriors coach Steve Kerr went viral, then Golden State knocked their Houston Rockets out of the Western Conference Finals later that season and again into the semifinals. Next year. Most recently, Curry told Paul “it’s not 2014 anymore” during a game against the Phoenix Suns in March.
There’s a lot to unpack, but Paul is now focused on helping the Warriors win another ring – and win his first.
“We’ve known each other a long, long time, man,” Paul told Curry’s Andrews. “So I’m thrilled to have the chance to play alongside him, Klay [Thompson], [Andrew Wiggins]Draymond [Green], all. They have an incredible organization. This team is fair — they’ve been playing together for a while and they know what they’re doing.”
Paul has had a ringside seat to much of Curry’s success with the Warriors since 2009. And now he’ll be looking to be a part of it – no matter how odd it may seem at first.
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