"Never thought in a million years I would play for Gregg Popovich": Chris Paul has a message for fans after he arrives in San Antonio
Chris Paul will play in his 20th season in the NBA when the 2024-25 campaign opens. After he was waived by the Golden State Warriors to become an unrestricted free agent, he promptly agreed to play for the San Antonio Spurs. Paul, a longtime Spurs admirer, will finally get to play for a team that has given him a handful of painful playoff losses.
In 2020, when the OKC Thunder acquired “CP3” from the Houston Rockets, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich explained Paul’s importance to a young team. “Pop” said in a report from The Oklahoman that star guard is “a boon” to emerging players’ careers. The multi-titled coach also described Paul as an “alpha” and “a natural leader” who “suffers no fools.”
Popovich might have described what his young roster needed before the team acquired Chris Paul. The coach went out to get what they sorely lacked last season. The answer to a big part of their problem arrived in San Antonio with a message to the fans:
“Hey, what’s up Spurs fans? [I] just want you guys to know how excited I am to get to San Antonio. I would have never thought in a million years that I’d get an opportunity to play for Pop [Popovich] but I’m so excited, excited about his young and talented team. [I] cannot wait to get there and get to work and see what we got a chance to do.”
Gregg Popovich had a big hand in landing the 11-time All-NBA winner. League Insider Chris Haynes reported when the deal was announced that Chris Paul was “sold on the (Spurs) culture.” Haynes added that the chance to help Victor Wembanyama develop his game was also a motivating factor.
Gregg Popovich is expected to start Chris Paul
Haynes’ report included that Chris Paul is motivated to prove that he is still an elite guard in the NBA. Although he took a backseat in Golden State with Steph Curry running the show, Gregg Popovich is expected to hand the reins of the offense to the “Point God.” With him in the lineup, the question of who will run the Spurs’ plays should be clear.
Paul may have lost a step or two but remains one of the best in setting up his teammates. San Antonio’s young core of Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle will learn from him. “Pop” knows this very well, the reason he worked to get Paul to San Antonio.
Unlike in the Bay Area where he usually starts off the bench, Gregg Popovich will line up with Paul to open games. He could thrive with the Spurs as he can give the team 20-25 minutes of elite playmaking without sacrificing too much on the defensive end.
Spurs fans will expect Paul's inclusion to the roster to help change the franchise's fortunes around from last season, where they finished second-to-last – ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers – with a 22-60 overall record for the season.