Across 18 NBA seasons, Paul totaled 21,755 points, 11,501 assists, and 2,544 steals while shooting 47.2% from the field – all in the regular season alone. He has started 1,214 regular season games and has never come off the bench.
Things will change once the 2023-24 regular season kicks off later this month when Paul begins his 19th season on his sixth NBA team.
Understanding Chris Paul’s Role in Golden State
A Major Adjustment for Paul
In a press conference, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that Paul’s potential involvement in their adjustments is important for the Warriors this upcoming season.
“If this is going to work, then everybody is going to have to embrace it – regardless of who’s starting and who’s not,” he said. “It only works if the whole team buys in.”
Whether you like it or not, the Warriors’ starting point guard is Curry. While Paul starting could allow Curry to play more off-ball and let the offense find him, it will mean bumping one of the usual starters to the bench to accommodate the 38-year-old Wake Forest standout.
On the other hand, a Curry-Paul point guard duo is also an exciting prospect to see. This move will move Klay Thompson up to the small forward position, with Draymond Green as the starting power forward and Kevon Looney at center. This startling line-up would also mean Andrew Wiggins would move to the bench.
It’s About Finding the Right Balance
Now, Paul coming off the bench isn’t something we’re about to see for the first time. Russell Westbrook came off the bench and made it work before the Los Angeles Lakers traded him. Carmelo Anthony also came off the bench during the final stretch of his career.
Either way, Paul’s role in Golden State would be to serve as the second ball handler next to Curry. And while his scoring has dropped, his ball handling is one of the reasons why he remains one of the best point guards in today’s NBA.
For Kerr, we can expect him to juggle the starting lineup during the early goings of the upcoming season to find the best combination of players that will work in the long run. In the case of Curry and company, it’s about finding what’s best for the Warriors’ success – especially when most analysts believe the 2023-24 season is the start of the end of the Curry era in Golden State.
As it pertains to Paul, it will be fun to see how he will work alongside Curry. What’s more exciting is he will have a real opportunity to win that elusive first NBA championship. While some wonder if Paul in Golden State is a good fit, this isn’t the first time he’s joined a loaded squad. In each of his stints, he elevated them to new heights. Paul averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals last season for the Phoenix Suns.
Who knows? He might be the key to the Warriors winning another championship in the Curry era.
