Warriors fans may need some time to adjust as they witness the unexpected sight of Steph Curry and Chris Paul donning the same uniform and starting lineup. The duo will make their debut together on Saturday night at Chase Center in the team’s first preseason exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Contrary to popular belief, Curry and Paul are more familiar with each other than anticipated. They organized offseason mini-camps in various locations such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, demonstrating their commitment to team-building. Additionally, they intentionally spent ample time playing together, alongside Klay Thompson, during the offseason. Despite their previous decade-long rivalry and extensive scouting, the former adversaries quickly found themselves in perfect synchronization.
Paul’s exceptional basketball IQ, coupled with the Warriors’ offense that thrives on intelligence, further enhances their compatibility.
“He was calling out stuff that he had been scouting against us for years and it kind of came into a joke,” Curry said. “The different looks he knew were coming. … It was pretty seamless, to be honest.”
So chemistry was bubbling when Curry and Paul started official practices at Chase Center on Tuesday. Paul has joined in on Curry’s typically solo post-practice work.
“Building our chemistry and understanding the sets we’re going to run and things that stretch each other,” Curry said. “He plays a certain way and I play a certain way and there’s a challenge there of — I’ll lead a certain part of the workout and he’ll lead a certain part of the workout and sharpen the toolkit that way.”
Paul is entering his 19th NBA season having established himself as a Hall of Fame point guard with a methodical style — he’s a smart ball handler and passer with a deadly mid-range shot. Curry and the Warriors stormed the league with chaotic, high-difficulty and high-efficiency scoring. With fellow playmaker Draymond Green out for at least two more weeks with an ankle sprain, Curry and Paul will get a chance to find synergy with their playing styles.
