Paul Reveals Reason for Joining Spurs: Opportunity to Play and Honor of Teaming with Popovich

On July 10, the San Antonio Spurs held a media conference for newly signed Chris Paul. During the event, Paul shared why he opted for the Spurs over teams with championship potential, particularly given the Spurs’ subpar record of 22 wins and 60 losses last season.

“There’s nothing that makes me happier than being able to play basketball,” said Paul.

“At this point in my life, family is everything, but I love the game of basketball. Yes, I can be close to home, but if I’m not playing, I’m not happy. So when this opportunity came up, my family knows me better than anyone else. They know that I just want to play. I want to play more than anything else. That’s why I’m grateful to them, grateful they allowed me to come here.”

Paul also mentioned that it was an “honor” to play under Popovich at this stage of his career.

“Obviously, I’ve admired Popovich from afar for years. When someone has been in the business as long as he has, you gain a lot of respect. There’s a reason people hold him in high regard,” Paul said.

It’s worth noting that Paul has faced the Spurs 81 times in regular season and playoff games combined, more than any other player in the NBA.

Paul stated, “Joining the Spurs at this stage in my career might be one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I’ve been on some young teams and have learned a lot from guys like Alexander, Booker, and Bridges. So I’m excited to share what I know and teach these guys everything they want to learn. And I’m excited to learn from them as well.”