Chris Paul spoke to reporters on Sunday during an introductory press conference following his trade to the Warriors.
Among the topics broached during his press conference was Paul’s role with the team. When one reporter appeared to assume that the veteran point guard would be coming off the bench in Golden State, Paul indicated he and head coach Steve Kerr have yet to discuss that possibility.
“You coaching?” Paul asked the reporter. “Well, I don’t know what the situation is going to be yet. I think that’ll be for us to figure out once we get going.”
“It’ll be a conversation for us when camp starts,” Paul said when asked if he’d be willing to come off the bench for the first time in his career.
There’s been no discussion between Chris Paul and Steve Kerr about Paul coming off the bench. “It’ll be a conversation when camp starts. Me and Steve have talked, but that ain’t something where it’s, ‘What up, man? You starting or coming off the bench.” pic.twitter.com/JYSO9hcHqE
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 10, 2023
With Stephen Curry almost certainly locked in to the starting point guard position for the Warriors, the acquisition of Paul had many under the impression that the 38-year-old would be rolling with Golden State’s young second unit. Paul, however, indicated that he’s not been informed of such a decision from the organization. The Warriors were one of the teams at the forefront of basketball’s positionless movement, and very well could start both of them in an undersized backcourt.
Throughout his 18-year NBA career, Paul has started all 1,214 regular-season games he’s played in, including 59 last year with the Suns.
In addition to his press conference, Paul reportedly worked out with Curry at the team’s facility in Las Vegas before making a courtside appearance with his new teammate at the Warriors’ Summer League game.