GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 2, 2023

Chris Paul

Media Conference

Q. We've heard about these work outs and how you were insistent on getting up here. What was that like and why did you want to go through this and what were those workouts like?

CHRIS PAUL: First of all, how you doing. I'm sorry, say that one more time. What's your question?

Q. Just the off-season workouts that we've heard about with you coming up here and getting Steph there and the young guys. Why did you think they were important and what did you get out of them?

CHRIS PAUL: Believe it or not, it's not my first time being traded on another team. So it's parts of it. But anything, you change jobs, anything, going into a new environment, you want to be around the guys; the only way you get a chance to know each other.

It was cool. We got a chance to hoop, spend a lot of time together, and we've still got a lot of work to do. But I hate it for anybody who show up to Media Day and say "what up" for the first time and not know nobody. It make it tough on you.

Q. Back during Summer League, you held the Warriors jersey in your hand and said you never thought you would see the day. Now going through Media Day, actually got the uniform on and have had workouts this summer with your new teammates, how has this transition been for you to this organization?

CHRIS PAUL: It's going. It's going. It's been going really well. First time I actually put the uniform on was for my new State Farm commercials.

It's a transition with anything. You know, just even Media Day when you're saying "Dove Nation" here and there, I didn't -- that's not been a sound I didn't like to hear for the past, I don't know how many years (laughing).

But getting here, seriously, communicating with Raymond, getting to know E and all the different people that work here with the team, it makes it a lot more personable, you know what I mean.

So it's not like I'm just walking past Raymond before the games or what not, just sort of side-eyes each other. You get to know everybody here on a more personal experience and I think that's been really cool.

Q. You obviously probably know the starting lineup question is coming.

CHRIS PAUL: No? (Feigning surprise).

Q. How much does that matter to you?

CHRIS PAUL: For me, I actually had an opportunity in '08 to come off the bench for the Olympic Team, you know what I mean, and that went pretty well. I think anybody who knows me knows I'm all about winning, you know what I mean. Whatever I can do to help our team win. I know Coach and us, we are going to talk about it and see what it likes like.

We've been hooping all summer. I think for the season, you know, it's going to be whatever to help our team win and I think I've at least tried to show or proven that my entire career, so yeah.

Q. Steve and Mike have made it so clear what a big sign Dario was, you guys have history together. Why is he so important to this team and why is he a good combination for you as well?

CHRIS PAUL: Dario just a great dude, great teammate. He was a big part of our Phoenix team until he got injured, and I think we got a lot of guys on our team who sort of play with a chip on their shoulder or something to prove.

Dario, just when I knew I was coming here and I talked to Mike about the opportunity to play with Dario here, you know, some guys just fit a team really well. I think with the way that we want to play, Dario fits that.

Q. You were just speaking a little bit ago about how you never thought this day, you would have to say go Warriors and all these things. When Draymond was in here, he spoke for about five minutes on the evolution of your guys' relationship. So from your perspective and point of view, how would you describe the evolution of your relationship with Draymond and Steph, Klay, Steve, all these guys here?

CHRIS PAUL: It's been a lot. It's been a lot. Even with Dray. We've been the craziest competitors against each other for a long time. There's a lot of things that's said here and there. I tend to deal with things a lot more privately, you know, so we talked, went to lunch, had a great conversation, all these different things. But also with all the different guys, Steph, Klay -- I told you, Klay had guarded me for years. We was playing pick up the other day and he guarded me and I looked up and I said, we don't do this no more.

It's funny, man, life is crazy. Willy green who is like a brother to me actually became an assistant coach years ago here, and it kind of changed the dynamics of our relationship for a little while, you know what I mean. But it's funny how life happens. But everyone here, all the guys, Steve, everybody, has been great, and we all are trying to build.

Q. Everybody talks about you as the elder statesman and all this experience and how much they can learn from you. What do you think you can learn from the guys?

CHRIS PAUL: A lot. A lot. I think that's what's been cool. I know when you come into the league, you hope to play with one team your whole career. It's only been a few guys that's ever got the opportunity to do that. I was hoping I would do that with New Orleans, you know, but actually a really cool part of my career is the fact that I've played with other teams and other great players, so I've been able to learn how to do things, not just a certain way. I've had an opportunity to play with Blake Griffin, played with David West, played with James Harden, Shai, you know, and then I got a chance to play with Devin the last few years.

So being here with this great group of talent; me and Steph was in the gym together last night, and it's just fun when you're working out with guys, because you think you know things. So even with JK and some of the younger guys, you can always learn in this league, and that's what brings the excitement and that's what makes it fun.

Q. Along those lines, the Warriors have been in your package in recent seasons.

CHRIS PAUL: You sure? (Laughs).

Q. What have been your observations about how this group operated, and when guys went down, whether it was Draymond or Steph or Klay for a couple years what they were able to do and your observations from the outside looking in and now being part of it?

CHRIS PAUL: You know, it's funny, even though there's 30 teams in this league, this league is pretty small. Just the way this league work, you always know somebody in the locker room. You know a coach. You know someone close to every organization in the league, especially if you've been around as long as I have.

But you never know until you get inside and you get inside that locker room and you see what it's like.

You know, you come around and you see the different people that help on a daily basis, and you get to know the guys and you understand why they won. You know, everybody plays a role.

It's funny, Dray is always sort of this villain. You know, he was damn sure one when I was on another team. But you get a chance to be around a team and you see what he means to this team, what he means to this organization, and everybody plays their part. And that's why team sports and teams work, it's because -- you know, got a friend of mine, Killer Mike, who always says, "When everybody does a little, no one has to do a lot." That's what I hope to bring to this team.

Q. In addition to Draymond talking about the high-profile matchups that you guys have had that were so competitive, he also said that you're a big influence on the younger players. Is that something that you consciously do, and if so, how can you help them with your years of experience?

CHRIS PAUL: It's not. Like I come in here and say, what the young guys doing every day. It's just, I mean, for my life, I have always been vertically challenged, so I've never been a power forward or a center. I've always played point guard or in football I was a quarterfinal or I was the union president and all this stuff. So you understand, like with leadership, you've got to bring everybody along.

In order for our team to be good, we can't be the vets over here and the young guys over there. It takes a team. We all have our strengths; we all have our weaknesses. I think one of my strengths is always to try, at least try, ain't always perfect, but at least try to make sure I bring people together.

Q. Along those same lines, at the end of last season when it ended the way they didn't want it to and at the beginning of this season, there's been a lot of talk about chemistry and connectivity between the players. As someone coming in from the outside, did it look wrong to you, the chemistry with this team?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, I'm going to be honest with you -- not to cut you off, but I don't listen to what nobody say on the outside or what it was supposed to be. I can only go by my experience.

Q. Yeah.

CHRIS PAUL: So it ain't like I came in searching for what's this, what's that. It's people. You know, so I can never go by what was said this, that and the third.

Q. Well, Steve said it. But I'm just wondering, is it something that you emphasize? Like how do you do that as a leader? How do you bring people together?

CHRIS PAUL: I don't know what Steve said, you know what I'm saying. What I'm telling you, I can only go by my experience.

I think the biggest thing that's helped me with leadership over the years is experience, right. So different situations that I've been in, they don't always go perfect but I know I try and the biggest thing that you can do with anybody is to spend time with them, real time with them. So that's that.

Q. Welcome to the Bay?

CHRIS PAUL: Yes, sir. Thank you.

Q. Draymond was up here a minute ago saying, they look at me outside and think I'm an a-hole. They look at Chris, they think he an a-hole. Do you think having both you guys on this team in that role with that reputation can be, I don't know, motivational or in any way an advantage against other teams?

CHRIS PAUL: We going to find out. You know, serious, like I've said this a number of places. The one person I wish I would have got an opportunity to play with my entire career and I never did was Kevin Garnett, right. And that's because the first three times I played against KG, we both got double-techs, right, because we both played with the same intensity. I never really played other than sort of Tyson and D-West.

But I never really played with big men that protected your guards, you know what I mean, where you don't have to get into s---, you know what I mean, I just sort of did it myself.

I'm excited, even though the way it's been for years and whatnot with Draymond, I'm excited about being on the same team with him.

Q. A few people have specifically mentioned Kuminga as a guy they think you can help. Your thoughts on his game and his talent and where basketball-wise you think you might be able to help him?

CHRIS PAUL: JK can hoop, man. We done have some great moments in pick up and all that stuff but I'm going to tell you straight up, I'm a hooper. Like, of course I may be able to help JK, but everybody, you know what I mean on the team. But I feel like those guys going to be able to help me.

So I'm going to tell you, I'm not like a guy who is coming in like, oh, this is just my focus. I'm here to hoop and to play and that's the way I am. That's the way I've always been and that's not changing.

Q. On a much lighter note, what did it feel like today putting on that uniform, and as you guys build chemistry, did your teammates give you some jokes about seeing you in that uniform for the first time?

CHRIS PAUL: My teammates? What that's all I hear, you know what I'm saying, from the coaches to everybody, Q, one of the assistant coaches, every time I show up to practice and anything, he just Pat me on the back and tell me how good this looks on me.

I remember the first day I came here, I took a picture of my locker and the uniform and the jersey, and I put it in my family group chat, and even in the group chat with all my homies and my friends, they are saying, "Oohh, damn, that's going to take some getting used to." So it's definitely been a process.

But the coolest part of about it has been hooping. Basketball, for years, for a lifetime just been a connector, you know what I mean. Once we get out on the court, that's the last thing that's on my mind or any other guy's mind. That's sort of like the safe haven.

Q. The one thing always said about you is your basketball intelligence. It's one thing to talk about the outside watching a player but how do you define that basketball intelligence label on you? What does that mean when people say that about you from your perspective?

CHRIS PAUL: Probably just mean I ain't that athletic, you know what I mean. I have to use that to get by.

But no, I mean, I love this game, right. I study this game a lot. I watch games all day every day. It's an art to it. It's a way I express myself. Like I said, it's sort of a safe haven, so I love to hoop. I love to play basketball.

Yeah, I think that basketball intelligence just comes from always watching and looking and learning. Like someone asked earlier, when you come to a new team with something like that, there's different plays or sets or whatnot. So always being able to learn.