GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 17, 2024

Chris Paul

Media Conference

Q. After a season here, reflecting back, what was it like to play for the Warriors?

CHRIS PAUL: It was a unique experience. I'm glad I got an opportunity to play with the guys that I did, get a chance to meet new people, play for an organization I never would have imagined I'd play for. But I'm grateful for the experience.

Q. That being said, if you had an opportunity to play again here next year, is that something you'd like to exercise?

CHRIS PAUL: Man, I'm open to things. I think right now what's on my mind probably is getting back, spending some time with my family, seeing them. I'm forever grateful to the organization and whatnot and how much they allowed me to get back and see my family as much.

It's a big summer. Our team came up short, but it was a tough season. Another hand surgery. Hand surgery number five. But all in all, it was fun battling with these guys.

I just hoped and hope at some point I can get out there and play and try to make a bigger impact.

Q. Compared to maybe your expectations coming on to this team, what's something that surprised you about being around this organization?

CHRIS PAUL: It was a lot of surprises, like good surprises. Man, everything is first class, I'll tell you that much, from everything. Big shout-out to Eric Housen and the training staff, to Raymond and his crew and all the different people and the different personnel. You can talk about, it's a player's league, but they really treat you like that over here, and it was really nice to see.

Q. We obviously know the storyline about it becoming your first time ever coming off the bench. Steve really commended you on everything as far as how you took your role, starter, bench, anything. Do you have a desire as far as whether it's here or anywhere else to be a starter, or does that matter to you?

CHRIS PAUL: I think for me, I showed the ability to adapt and change, but first and foremost, I'm a competitor. I want to hoop. I just love to play. I love to play. I love to contribute and just -- I think that's what it is for me. I think it's a big summer. I've got to get back to work, get back to work.

Q. You said when you were talking to Anthony that you got a chance -- you told people you got a chance to look behind the curtain. Tell us what you saw in terms of what this team is like on a locker room level, what the coaching is like, management.

CHRIS PAUL: You might have to hoop yourself to get all that stuff, but I think for me when I said that it was more so about getting to know Dray, Steph and Klay -- obviously Loon, too, but especially them three, given the amount of times we competed and played against each other, and just seeing everything as far as this arena. Obviously I played most of my games at Oracle, seeing the fans, seeing everything, and it was good to have a lot of the conversations that we had.

Then also just an appreciation, right, because although we battled against each other time and time again, there's an appreciation for the work that goes in day in and day out. That's sort of what I meant about that.

Q. We know you've got to talk to your family and everything, but we know you want to keep playing and you don't want to retire. What motivates you to keep going at this stage of your career?

CHRIS PAUL: Just I love it. You know what I mean? I've been playing basketball since I was four years old, and there's nothing other than my family that brings me more joy than the hard work and all that stuff that goes into it. Yeah, that's why we get to play a child's game and say it's my way of life and take care of my family. That's why I do it. That's why I continue to do it. Yeah, I'll be back ready for next season.

Q. This was the first time in probably 14, 15 years for you that you're not in the Playoffs. How much does the way this season ended sour your experience here, and how much of a priority is getting back to the Playoffs for you?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, don't feel good, but it is what it is. I get a chance to travel and be an AAU dad, make some of my daughter's volleyball games. A little bit of a longer break than usual, but it is what it is.

Q. You've had a chance to see probably the best view of anybody of this Warriors team from the very beginning like 12 years ago when they were first starting to go to the Playoffs and stuff like that, so you've watched them along the way and now been a part of it. Does this seem like a team, a dynasty that's in a major transition point? How do you look at it?

CHRIS PAUL: I don't know. I played against them 12 years ago, but I was on my own journey. You know what I mean? Like I said, I have a deep appreciation for Steph, shooting and training with him day in and day out, dealing with so many off-the-court things, just life, appearances, all the different things that I know he has going on. With Dray, the season that he had, dealing with a lot, and the same thing with Klay. So I think there's an appreciation for those guys, dealing with all the things that they've had to deal with over the past I don't know how many years. I'm grateful that I got a chance to know them on more than a basketball level. I really got a chance to know who they are, and I appreciate them for that.

Q. This seemed like from an outsider's viewpoint that for you this was more than just a passing-through season, just another stop on the long journey, that maybe it was --

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, I don't really operate like that. Any situation I go into, I'm all in. It was like that in Houston. It was like that in OKC. I think a lot of times people talk about that season in OKC we weren't going, but I've always tried to make an impact wherever I was. We came up short here this year, but I'm excited about the summer and getting back to work and seeing what's what.

Q. Everyone talked about what a great mentor you have been for some of the young guys. How do you describe the growth in the young guys, whether it's a BP, Trayce, JK --

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, it's funny, because I might have said it -- all these years be running together. I don't know if I said it this year or when I got to OKC when everybody talked about mentor, and I said that's all well and good but I like to hoop.

But for me, I am not like a hoarder of knowledge. I've had so many people who have sort of mentored me, taught me things over the years, whether it be Bobby Jackson or PJ Brown, some of my vets, all the way to Jannero Pargo, Tyson Chandler, David West, all these guys. I've had so many people that have taught me things, and it wouldn't sit right with me if I just kept all that knowledge to myself. So I've just tried to pass on some of those little tidbits so that they know.

Q. You've gotten to know Draymond pretty well. What would you say to his critics that say he's not available, he puts himself out of the action too much and stuff like that? How would you address that?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, that's why they sit and talk from where they're at. They're not playing. Everybody always is going to have something to say. A pair of lips will say anything.

Q. Blake Griffin announced his retirement yesterday, I think?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah.

Q. Were you able to connect? I know you two were close. When you were playing did you ever think he'd retire before you did?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, man, it's crazy. That was wild yesterday when I seen it because you don't always see eye to eye with everybody or always have the "kumbaya" relationship, but me and Blake got a chance to talk -- was it last year, two years ago, whatnot, so there will always be so much love and respect there. Sometimes you just have to reflect on situations.

I catch myself looking at highlights of Blake at times, and it's with anything, sometimes you don't appreciate what it was until it's gone. So DJ texted me yesterday, DeAndre Jordan, he texted me, like damn, he was surprised and whatnot. Obviously we all will have that time, but that's six of the funnest years of my career, and there will never be another Blake Griffin.

Guys on the team, some of the young guys be asking, C, what was it like? What was it like? I'm like, you'll never see nothing like it. Never see nothing like it. I wish BG nothing but the best to him and his family. Man, that was a time.