Steph Curry, Klay Thompson make first public comments on new Warriors teammate Chris Paul
In their first public comments about their new teammate, Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry and Klay Thompson expressed excitement about teaming up with Chris Paul.
Golden State acquired Paul last week in a trade, dealing away young guard Jordan Poole. Thompson called playing with a someone like Paul who is one of the best of their generation an honor, according to The Athletic.
"I think he’s just going to add such a calming presence and leadership component that we need. I know Steph and him have a long history together being both from North Carolina," he said. "For me, it’s going to be a smooth transition playing with such a passer and playmaker, I’m just excited."
Thompson's excitement is warranted. He naturally fits alongside a pass-first point guard like Paul because of his elite shooting ability. Paul averaged 10 assists per game two seasons ago.
It's a pairing that based on where the team was at, Curry admitted he could not have predicted six months ago.
The leadership of Paul will be helpful for the Warriors, but also his winning DNA. Curry emphasized that Paul can help the team get back to winning a championship.
"Every team that [Chris Paul] has been on gets better," Curry said. "That’s the most consistent thing on him and who he is and what he brings to the team. Everybody’s going to talk about the age. It’s on us to put that all together and figure out how all the pieces work."
Once those pieces fit, it could be a difficult puzzle to crack for teams in the Western Conference.
The new teammates are no strangers to each other. They have faced against each other in three playoff series through the years.
Paul defeated the splash brothers in the first round of the 2014 playoffs, one year before the Golden State Warriors won their first championship. He then almost knocked off the Curry and Thompson in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, until Paul suffered an injury that sent the Houston Rockets crashing in Game 7 at home. The Warriors beat Paul and the Rockets again the next year.
Because of that, it will take Thompson some time to get comfortable sharing the court with Paul as teammates.
"It’s a little weird because we’ve had so many battles in the past with Chris and he’s led so many teams that nearly knocked us off or did knock us off all the way back in 2014," he said.