(New York) Veteran point guard Chris Paul will join the Golden State Warriors and be able to aim for the NBA title that is missing from his list, he indicated on Thursday, confirming press reports.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to play for a franchise like this, with very great players,” he told Fox Sports.
“It’s crazy how life is: I’ve been fighting against them for ten years, but what I care about is winning, so anything that can give me the opportunity to win, I’m ready to do so,” “CP3” continued.
Paul, 38, had been under contract since 2020 with the Phoenix Suns, but the Arizona franchise sent him after the 2022-23 season ended in the conference semifinals (4-2 loss to in Denver) with Landry Shamet in Washington who, in return, traded to Suns Bradley Beal, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
He will only remain under contract with Washington for a few days, since the Wizards sold him to the Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins and two choices for the next draft.
This transfer, which can only be formalized from July 6, surprised NBA observers, since Paul evolves in the same position as Steph Curry, of which he will be the understudy, and he remains on a mixed season with averages of 13.9 points and 8.9 assists per regular season game.
When he was a Clippers player (2011-17), Paul, who notably passed through Houston (2017-19) and Oklahoma City (2019-20), never failed to criticize the Warriors and their style of play.
“CP3” has no doubts about his ability to win at Golden State despite this background.
“I’ve played on a number of different teams in different game systems […] I know when you play with really good players you come out on top and I think that’s what we’re going to do,” said- he assured Fox Sports.
In eighteen seasons in the NBA, Paul has been selected twelve times for the All Star Game, the gala match which brings together the best players in the championship each year. But he never won the supreme title, his best result being a lost final with Phoenix in 2021 against Milwaukee (4-2).
Golden State, which won four NBA titles (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022) with its golden generation (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green), was eliminated this season in the conference semi-finals (4-2 against the Lakers).
