Spurs’ Chris Paul ‘didn’t need a sales pitch’ to join up with Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich

Chris Paul “didn’t need a sales pitch,” the future Hall of Famer told reporters during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. When he talked to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich about the possibility of signing with the team in free agency, the two “more than anything had a conversation,” Paul said. The 39-year-old guard said he had admired Popovich for years, and they’d chat a little bit when their teams competed against each other.

“There’s so much respect there,” Paul said. “Not only for his basketball IQ, but just for who he is as a person, as a competitor in all of this.”

Paul said playing for the Spurs and learning from Popovich would be an honor and a privilege. What he appreciated most about the phone call was that Popovich told him, “I want you to come be you.” He also noted that Pop “sounded excited” about the partnership, “so that got me excited.”

It “helped, too, obviously,” Paul said, that San Antonio presented him the opportunity to play with a 20-year-old budding star. Simply “getting a chance to watch” Victor Wembanyama was a draw, he said.

“I played against him this season, and, I tell you, there’s probably no player in the league that everybody in the league talks about after the game like him,” Paul said. “‘Cause everybody has to adjust stuff. Me and Harrison [Barnes] was on our flight yesterday just talking about how cool it’s going to be at this point in our careers to get a chance to appreciate him day in and day out. So that definitely helped.”

The Spurs went 22-60 last season, but by the end of the year, they were much better than their record suggests, particularly when Wembanyama and wing Devin Vassell were on the court together. Next season, they will not wait months to make Wembanyama a full-time center and stop playing Jeremy Sochan at point guard. Paul didn’t make any grand declarations about how many games they’ll win but made it clear that he’s “not a coach” and will compete. 

“I only have one goal every time and that’s to win,” Paul said. “Every game. I don’t care if it’s practice, I…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/spurs-chris-paul-didnt-need-a-sales-pitch-to-join-up-with-victor-wembanyama-and-gregg-popovich/

Author : James Herbert

Publish date : 2024-07-09 21:29:40

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