[SAEN] 克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)准备为马刺队“尽情打球”

By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-07-09 14:34:29

由生成式人工智能翻译,译文内容可能不准确或不完整,以原文为准。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

明眼人都认为,12届全明星后卫克里斯·保罗会在一支能帮助他弥补名人堂履历中唯一缺憾——NBA总冠军的球队度过职业生涯的暮年。

那么,他为什么与正处于重建期的年轻马刺队签订了一份为期一年、价值1100万美元的合同呢?

39岁的保罗说:“是为了有机会上场打球,为了享受篮球,为了竞争。”

换句话说,答案的核心在于他对比赛的热爱,极度的好胜心,以及在上赛季主要以替补身份为金州勇士队效力后,他想再次成为首发球员的渴望。

保罗说:“显然,这是一支一流的球队,对我来说,我最希望的就是有机会上场比赛,做出贡献,尽情地打篮球。”

周二,在胜利资本表演中心,马刺队将保罗和最近签下的老将前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)介绍给了媒体。

几天前,马刺队签下了保罗,这使得球队拥有了NBA历史上最优秀的控球后卫之一,他将为维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)输送炮弹,并作为导师指导球队未来的球场指挥官——乐透新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)。保罗在这次签约后的媒体见面会上成为了焦点人物。

在谈到这位20岁的法国球星时,保罗说:“我本赛季和他(文班亚马)交过手,我告诉你,联盟中可能没有哪个球员像他一样,在比赛结束后还能成为所有人谈论的话题。”

32岁的巴恩斯也很高兴能和这位2024年的年度最佳新秀一起打球。

“他是联盟中一位非常优秀的年轻球员,绝对有希望成为最优秀的球员之一。”巴恩斯说。

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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)此前效力于萨克拉门托国王队,后被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,巴恩斯在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

至于担任卡斯尔的导师,保罗表示,他一直“非常认真地对待”指导年轻球员的“责任”。但他也再次强调,他来到圣安东尼奥是为了“打球”。

“我不是教练,”他说。“当然,有很多东西需要学习。但我来这里显然带来了很多在实践中学习到的知识,但我也来向这些家伙学习。这可能是我职业生涯中最酷的事情之一,是的,我去过一些比较年轻的球队,但我一直在向这些家伙学习。”

保罗加盟马刺队的另一个因素是:主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)。

“为NBA历史上胜场最多的教练效力绝对是一种荣誉和荣幸,”保罗在谈到为波波维奇效力时说。“显然,我多年来一直很敬佩波波维奇教练。对他充满了敬意。这不仅是因为他的篮球智商,还因为他的人格魅力,他作为一名竞争者的精神,所有的一切。”

巴恩斯也称赞了波波维奇以及他在马刺队几十年来建立的球队文化。

“我对这支球队以及他们所取得的一切成就都怀着最大的敬意,”巴恩斯说。他在萨克拉门托度过了过去六年,上赛季场均得到12.2分和3.2个篮板,之后通过一笔三方交易来到了圣安东尼奥。

上赛季,保罗在金州勇士队出场58次(18次首发),场均上场26.4分钟,得到9.2分、6.8次助攻、3.9个篮板和1.2次抢断。赛季结束时,他的助攻失误比为5.17,排名联盟第二。

这位征战NBA 19年的老将职业生涯场均上场34.1分钟,得到17.5分、9.4次助攻、4.5个篮板和2.1次抢断,效力过金州勇士、菲尼克斯、俄克拉荷马城、休斯顿、洛杉矶快船和新奥尔良。他还是NBA 75周年最佳阵容成员,职业生涯总得分22,288分,11,894次助攻,2,614次抢断,助攻和抢断总数均排名历史第三,仅次于贾森·基德(Jason Kidd)和约翰·斯托克顿(John Stockton)。

他是联盟历史上唯一一位得分超过22,000分、助攻超过11,000次和抢断超过2,500次的球员,而他4.01次的职业生涯助攻失误比在NBA历史上排名第四。

但这位两届奥运会金牌得主(2008年和2012年)、2012年全明星赛MVP和2006年最佳新秀仍然在追逐总冠军,此前他已经15次闯入季后赛,其中包括过去14个赛季中的13次,他在季后赛中场均得到20.0分、8.3次助攻和4.9个篮板。

总冠军的到来对保罗来说或许只是时间问题,但现在,他只是很高兴能加盟一支希望他“尽情打球”的球队。

“我想我最欣赏的是波波维奇教练说,‘我想让你来这里做你自己,’”保罗说。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)此前效力于萨克拉门托国王队,后被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,巴恩斯在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)是一名自由球员,在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签订了一份为期一年的合同。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,保罗在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)此前效力于萨克拉门托国王队,后被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,巴恩斯在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)此前效力于萨克拉门托国王队,后被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,巴恩斯在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)此前效力于萨克拉门托国王队,后被交易至圣安东尼奥马刺队。2024年7月9日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥,马刺队宣布了这笔交易,巴恩斯在球队新闻发布会上对媒体发表了讲话。

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2024年3月31日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥霜冻银行中心举行的比赛结束后,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)(1号)与金州勇士队的克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)(3号)互相致意。

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2024年3月31日,周日,在圣安东尼奥举行的一场NBA篮球比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(1号)在对阵金州勇士队的比赛上半场投篮,克里斯·保罗(3号)防守。

点击查看原文:Chris Paul ready to 'hoop' for the Spurs

Chris Paul ready to ‘hoop’ for the Spurs

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Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Smart money had 12-time All-Star guard Chris Paul spending the twilight years of his career with a team that could help him add the only thing missing from his Hall of Fame-worthy resume: an NBA title.

So why did he sign a one-year, $11 million contract with the rebuilding, young Spurs?

“The opportunity to play, to hoop, to compete,” Paul, 39, said.

In other words, the answer centers on his love of the game, ultra competitive spirit and his desire to be a starter again after mainly coming off the bench with Golden State last season.

“Obviously, this is a first-class organization, and for me, I would love nothing more than the opportunity to play and contribute and hoop and hoop,” Paul said.

The Spurs introduced Paul and recently acquired veteran forward Harrison Barnes to the media Tuesday at the Victory Capital Performance Center.

Paul was front and center at the gathering just days after the club signed him in a move that gives the team one of the best point guards in NBA history to feed the ball to Victor Wembanyama and also serve as a mentor to tutor lottery-pick Stephon Castle, the club’s floor general of the future.

“I played him (Wembanyama) 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 of the 20-year-old French star.

Barnes, 32, is also excited about playing with the 2024 Rookie of the Year.

“He’s a great young player in this league, definitely on his way to being one of the best,” Barnes said.

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Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

As far as serving as Castle’s mentor, Paul said he’s always “taken the responsibility” of mentoring younger players “very seriously.” But he also stressed again he came to San Antonio to “hoop.”

“I am not a coach,” he said. “There is definitely things to be learned and all this stuff. But I come in obviously with a lot of knowledge from on-the-job training, but I also come in trying to learn from these guys. That has probably been the coolest things about my career in that, yeah, I went to some teams that are younger or whatnot, but I’m constantly learning from these guys.”

Another factor in Paul joining the Spurs: coach Gregg Popovich.

“It’s going to definitely be an honor and a privilege,” Paul said of playing for the NBA’s all-time winningest coach. “Obviously, I’ve admired Pop from afar for years. There’s so much respect there. Not only for his basketball IQ but just who he is as a person, as a competitor, all of this.”

Barnes also praised Popovich and the culture he’s built in his decades with the organization.

“I have the utmost respect for this franchise and everything that they’ve accomplished,” said Barnes, who arrived in San Antonio via a three-team trade after he spent the last six years with Sacramento, where he averaged 12.2 points and 3.2 rebounds last season.

Paul spent last season with Golden State, appearing in 58 games (18 starts) and averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 26.4 minutes. He finished the season with the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA at 5.17.

The 19-year veteran owns career averages of 17.5 points, 9.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 34.1 minutes over 1,272 games (1,232 starts) with stints with Golden State, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Houston, the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans. He’s also a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, with 22,288 total points, 11,894 assists, 2,614 steals and ranks third all-time in both assists and steals, behind only Jason Kidd and John Stockton.

He’s the only player in league history with at least 22,000 points, 11,000 assists and 2,500 steals, while his 4.01 career assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth-best in NBA history.

But the two-time Olympic gold medalists (2008 and 2012), MVP of the 2012 All-Star Game and 2006 Rookie of the Year is still in search of a title after 15 playoff appearances, including 13 of the last 14 where he’s averaged 20.0 points, 8.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds.

A championship may come someday for Paul, but for now, he’s just happy to be with a team that wants him to “hoop.”

"I think what I appreciated the most was Pop said, ‘I want you to come here and be you,’ " Paul said.

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Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Image
Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Harrison Barnes, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs while previously playing for the Sacramento Kings, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is greeted by Chris Paul #3 of the Golden State Warriors at the end of the game at Frost Bank Center on March 31, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.

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San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in San Antonio.

By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News