Golden State Warriors media day is less than two weeks away on October 2, with fans expected to learn more about the state of the team ahead of their regular season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 24.
One question has dominated offseason discussion and speculation — the role of newly-acquired veteran point-guard Chris Paul. The idea of the 38-year-old as part of the Warrior setup is beginning to sink in, but there’s still plenty of murkiness surrounding his fit with the franchise.
Every key figure at the Golden State Warriors will be expected to answer questions on Chris Paul’s role with the team in 2023-24.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr will be the most important voice on Paul’s role, but you can also expect the core trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to field questions regarding their new teammate.
While most assumed Paul would take on the sixth-man role vacated by Jordan Poole, the 12-time All-Star has resisted the notion that it’s a foregone conclusion. Most recently, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears said he expected Paul be in the starting lineup.
Evaluating the biggest questions around the league going into media days, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps stated he was ‘anxious’ to hear what Paul, Kerr and others have to say about the situation.
"“Maybe Chris will come in and sit up there and say, ‘hey, I’ve thought about. I’m willing to come off the bench, it’s all kumbaya here. Everything’s going to be great’. But I’m very anxious to hear what everybody has to say there because if they do try to jam him into the starting lineup somehow, I don’t think that makes any sense”, Bontemps said on a recent episode of The Hoop Collective."
Paul has never come off the bench in over 1350 combined regular season and playoff games across a decorated 18-year career. He averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists with the Suns last season before being dealt to the Washington Wizards and eventually on-traded to Golden State.
Following media day on October 2, the Warriors will play the first of five preseason games against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Saturday, October 7.