Warriors' Chris Paul ready to play 'same way' in first game vs. Phoenix Suns since trade

SAN FRANCISCO – New Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul plays with an edge regardless of the circumstances.

He just wants to remind everyone of that going into Tuesday’s season opener against his former team – the Phoenix Suns – at Chase Center.

“I think I play the game the same way every time I play,” Paul said after Monday's practice at Chase Center. “I'm an emotional guy when I play, when I hoop, but not because of that situation. I think I play emotional just because of who I am. Opening night, it’s a new team. I know what I bring to the table and that’s edge every time that I play. It’s been like that for a long time, and I don’t see it changing.”

Paul was highly instrumental in the Suns’ sudden resurgence after a decade playoff drought, but he was traded to Washington in the offseason in a blockbuster deal that brought Bradley Beal to Phoenix.

The Wizards later dealt Paul to Golden State and got Jordan Poole in return. Paul is in the third year of his four-year, $120-million contract he signed with the Suns.

Now with his sixth NBA team, the 38-year-old veteran enters his 19th season facing the Suns for the first time since the trade. This will be the first time he’s played against one of his former teams in a regular season opener.

“Definitely excited and ready to go,” Paul said.

Paul is facing the team he and Devin Booker led to the 2021 NBA Finals. Booker is the only one left from that team still with Phoenix.

The two established a special bond after being fierce competitors prior. Now they will draw those battle lines once again on Tuesday, pending the availability of Booker.

The Suns are listing Booker (left big toe soreness) and Bradley Beal (low back tightness) as questionable for the season opener.

“It’ll be fun, man,” Paul said. “It’s crazy. Me and Book, we so close. It’s going to be like that for life. It’ll be interesting playing against him for the first time, but I’m sure after the first couple of minutes, it’ll be like it was when I was in Oklahoma City and in Houston and all of that before. It definitely should be fun.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has coached against Paul for years and has learned so much from those experiences, but he has an even greater appreciation for one of the all-time great point guards now that both are on the same side.

“I’ve known for years he’s one of the smartest, toughest competitors in the league,” Kerr said. “Everything I’ve seen backs that up. Nothing really surprises me. Mostly I’m just really thrilled to be collaborating with him because he’s got a lot of knowledge.”

As Kerr later put it, he “enjoys talking shop” with Paul.

“A lot of little details and some of the actions that he’s run consistently over the years, I’m learning from him,” Kerr continued. “He’s telling me what he’s looking at and what he’s trying to do with the defense, manipulate the defense a little bit. It’s fun just to hear him express that because I learn from him.”

When Paul joined Phoenix, he instantly became the leader of that team and had a partnership with Monty Williams, who coached him in New Orleans, and assistant Willie Green, his former teammate.

So there was familiarity there even on a new team after the Suns acquired Paul in a trade with Oklahoma City going into the 2020-21 season. Phoenix won a franchise-best 64 games with Paul in the 2021-22 season and reached the playoffs for a third straight year last season.

He’s now on a team that has established leaders in Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson for a franchise that’s won four NBA championships in an eight-year span.

Paul is trying to fit in, but Warriors big Kevon Looney is all for him turning up the volume on his leadership voice.

“He hasn’t tried to force it, try to be that, ‘I’m the leader now,’ type of guy,” Looney said. “He’s been really trying to fit in, learn the culture, but he has so much knowledge, instantly, when he talks, everybody listens. We all have respect for him and what he’s done in this league. He’s one of the best ever. People are looking for him for his voice and his leadership. He’s probably not expecting it, but we need his voice for us to be good this year.”

As he has done with every new team, Paul is feeling his way through with the Warriors.

“I’m figuring it out,” Paul said. “Anytime you going to a new team, it’s always different personalities. You got to figure it out, especially as a point guard. I can talk to this guy this way, that guy that way. You sort of figure that out.”

On the court, Paul will likely come off the bench for the first time in his career at some point in the season, especially when Green returns from an ankle injury, but should adapt to that role.

“He fits well,” said Paul’s former teammate, Suns superstar Kevin Durant, who won two NBA championships in his three seasons with the Warriors.

“He’s someone that can offset just the 3-point chase. He’s a guy who can shoot the midrange and get to the paint and can just something outside of shooting 3s like the rest of the guys do. He’s kind of that specialty player that they needed.”

Chris Paul’s first games against former team

An interesting side note is Paul in 0-4 against his former teams the first time he’s played against them.

March 22, 2012, at New Orleans (with Los Angeles Clippers) – 97-90 Loss (16 points, 5-of-14 FGs, 1-of-5 3PT, 9 assists, 1 turnover).

Jan. 15, 2018, at L.A. Clippers (with Houston Rockets) – 113-102 Loss (19 points, 8-of-17 FGs, 3-of-10 3PT, 7 assists, 1 turnover).

Oct. 28, 2019, at Houston (with Oklahoma City Thunder) – 116-112 Loss (15 points, 6-of-14 FGs, 3-of-7 3PT, 4 assists, 6 turnovers).

Jan. 27, 2021, vs. Oklahoma City (with Phoenix Suns) – 102-97 Loss (32 points, 12-of-21 FGs, 3-of-8 3PT, 5 assists, 4 turnovers).

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Warriors' Chris Paul in first game vs. Phoenix Suns since trade