After many playoff battles, the Golden State Warriors star klay thompson he knows that tying his shoes next to Chris Paul is going to be a strange feeling at first.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Thompson opened up about his new teammate and admitted that it’s a bit strange after so many years playing against Paul.
Chris Paul, #3 of the Houston Rockets, handles the ball against Klay Thompson, #11 of the Golden State Warriors, during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2019 in the ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Every time you play with a player who is one of the best of your generation it’s an honor,” Thompson told The Athletic. “It’s kind of weird because we’ve had so many battles in the past with Chris, and he’s led so many teams that we almost got knocked out or got knocked out in 2014.
“I think it will just add such a reassuring presence and leadership component that we need. I know he and Steph have a long history together, both being from North Carolina. For me, it’s going to be a smooth transition to play with a quarterback and playmaker like that, I’m excited.”
WARRIORS’ STEPH CURRY REFLECTS ON JORDAN POOLE’S DEPARTURE: ‘YOU HATE LOSING JP’
golden state he moved to CP3 after a season in which team chemistry was off before the Warriors began their title defense.
Draymond Green pummeled Jordan Poole in practice during training camp, starting the season on a sour note.
Draymond Green, #23, and Jordan Poole, #3 of the Golden State Warriors walk to the dugout during the second half of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center on October 25, 2022 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Warriors 134-105. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Green was fined by the organization but not suspended, and the four-time NBA champion he was in the starting lineup for the 2022-23 season opener.
During his exit interview at the end of the season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr discussed how Green’s hit impacted the team during the season.
“There was some of that missing this year for sure,” Kerr said when asked about the team’s chemistry throughout the season. “There’s no hiding it — the incident with Draymond and Jordan earlier in the year played a part in that. It’s hard not to let that affect a team.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“Any time some trust is lost, it makes the process much more difficult, and some trust was lost. That’s about as direct as I can be. The only way to try to course correct is to continue to communicate with players and coaches. And those relationships have to be built. The ties have to be built. I think that’s a big focus for us this offseason. We’ve got to get back to what’s made us really successful, which is a really trusting environment and a group that relies on each other and makes each other better”.
Klay Thompson, #11 of the Golden State Warriors, prior to Game Six of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 12, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Poole struggled during Golden State’s postseason and will now play in a washington wizards uniform after being transferred as part of the Paul trade.
“You hate losing JP,” Steph Curry said. “I know it’s not quite official yet. So I don’t want to talk too much before it is. But that’s the hard part of the business, watching a young man walk into his own [and then get traded]. It is a great opportunity for him. It’s just that you meet someone like that, you build a friendship, you build a bond.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Paul will enter his 19th NBA season at the age of 38 with an elusive championship in mind.
“We’ve known each other for a long, long time, man,” Paul told ESPN’s Malika Andrews of Curry.
“So I’m excited to have the chance to play alongside him, Klay. [Thompson], [Andrew Wiggins]dramond [Green], all of them. They have an amazing organization. That team is just… they’ve been playing together for a while and they know what they’re doing.”
Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
