By Jeff McDonald, Spurs writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-23 14:57:17
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。
10 月 12 日，星期六，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）在 NBA 篮球比赛下半场对阵犹他爵士队的科迪·威廉姆斯（5 号）和凯尔·菲利波夫斯基，比赛地点为圣安东尼奥。圣安东尼奥队以 126-120 获胜。(美联社照片/达伦·阿巴特)
达拉斯——二十年过去了，克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)在赛季开始时仍然感到紧张。
这位马刺队的新任首发控球后卫认为这是一件好事。
“我很兴奋，也很荣幸仍然有机会上场竞技，”保罗说。
这位 39 岁的全明星球员在 7 月份与圣安东尼奥签署了一份为期一年、价值 1050 万美元的合同，他将在周四马刺队在达拉斯开启常规赛时，迎来他在新俱乐部的首秀。
届时，保罗将加入 NBA 历史上一个罕见的俱乐部。
在联盟的编年史中，只有 10 名球员完成了 20 个 NBA 赛季。只有一名现役球员——洛杉矶湖人队的勒布朗·詹姆斯——完成了这一壮举。
保罗的目标是珍惜他职业生涯最后一场比赛的每一分钟。
“我会尽力参加每一场比赛，”保罗说。“这需要你日复一日地照顾好自己的身体，确保自己做好了准备。”
自 2005 年 11 月 1 日作为一名 19 岁的控球后卫在新奥尔良黄蜂队（当时被称为黄蜂队）完成 NBA 首秀以来，保罗已经取得了长足的进步。
从那以后，保罗先后效力于洛杉矶快船队、休斯顿队、俄克拉荷马城队、菲尼克斯队和金州勇士队。
勇士队在保罗效力了一个赛季后将他送走，他在那个赛季出场 58 场比赛——其中大部分时间都是替补出场——场均贡献 9.2 分和 6.8 次助攻。
这使得保罗可以自由地与马刺队签约，预计他将在那里首发出场尽可能多的比赛。
在季前赛中，保罗就赢得了新队友的赞誉。
“他让你的生活更轻松了，伙计，”中锋扎克·柯林斯(Zach Collins)说。“他非常擅长操控比赛，知道自己想做什么，并通过两到三种方式来迷惑防守。和他一起打球很有趣。”
保罗坚称自己不是一个需要负荷管理的人。他计划只要身体允许就会参加尽可能多的比赛。
年龄可能是这些计划中的一个因素。保罗在 30 岁之后只有一个赛季的出场次数超过了 70 场。
保罗说，到目前为止，他的身体感觉很好。随着退役的临近，保罗打算珍惜每一场比赛。
“总有一天——可能很快——我就不能再打球了，”保罗说。“任何我能抓住的机会，我都会努力去利用它。”
巴恩斯享受“铁人”称号
马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在球队出发前往达拉斯之前表示，他还没有确定赛季揭幕战的首发阵容。
无论波波维奇最终决定采用哪种阵容，哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)都肯定会出现在首发阵容中。
马刺队在休赛期引进的另一位老将巴恩斯，来的时候就像是一个“铁人”。这位 32 岁的锋线球员是在休赛期与萨克拉门托国王队的一笔交易中被球队收购的，他在过去两个赛季中都为国王队打了 82 场比赛，并且全部首发。
巴恩斯说，这是一个对他来说很重要的荣誉。
“我认为尽可能多地为你的队友们做好准备是很重要的，”巴恩斯说，他在马刺队的五场季前赛中都首发出场。“当你试图建立一些东西，并且希望保持一致性的时候，尤其是在阵容方面，这在联盟中是很难做到的。所以我认为，尽可能多地参加比赛，为球队贡献我的一切，这很重要。”
巴恩斯说，他已经和波波维奇谈过这个角色在圣安东尼奥将如何发挥作用。
“波波是一个直截了当的人，”巴恩斯说。“我们关于这类事情的谈话都很简短，直奔主题。做任何需要做的事情来赢得胜利。”
10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯顿举行的一场 NBA 季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队时投篮。(美联社照片/埃里克·克里斯蒂安·史密斯)
约翰逊被安排担任第六人
凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)预计将替补出场，开始他的第六个马刺赛季，他在上赛季末期转变成了这个角色。
这位 25 岁的得分后卫在上赛季作为替补出场的 42 场比赛中场均得到 15 分。约翰逊在首发的 27 场比赛中场均得到 16.9 分。
“我不担心首发还是替补出场，”约翰逊说。“这无关紧要。我关心的是上场后，无论我在场上多久，都要做好我的工作，帮助我的球队赢得比赛。”
佛罗里达州迈阿密——10 月 15 日：2024 年 10 月 15 日，在佛罗里达州迈阿密的凯斯亚中心举行的一场季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的克里斯·保罗（3 号）在第三节对阵迈阿密热火队的比赛中运球。
10 月 15 日，星期二，在迈阿密举行的一场 NBA 季前赛中，迈阿密热火队前锋尼古拉·约维奇（左二）在圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（左一）、前锋维克多·文班亚马（Victor Wembanyama）（1 号）和朱利安·尚帕尼（Julian Champagnie）（30 号）的防守下寻找空当。(美联社照片/威尔弗雷多·李)
10 月 15 日，星期二，在迈阿密举行的一场 NBA 季前赛中，迈阿密热火队前锋吉米·巴特勒（22 号）和圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗在争夺一个地板球。(美联社照片/威尔弗雷多·李)
10 月 12 日，星期六，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇（右）在 NBA 篮球比赛下半场对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中与马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）交谈，比赛地点为圣安东尼奥。(美联社照片/达伦·阿巴特)
10 月 12 日，星期六，在圣安东尼奥举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛下半场，犹他爵士队后卫杰森·普雷斯顿（10 号）与圣安东尼奥马刺队的克里斯·保罗和桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）发生冲突。圣安东尼奥队以 126-120 获胜。(美联社照片/达伦·阿巴特)
佛罗里达州迈阿密——10 月 15 日：2024 年 10 月 15 日，在佛罗里达州迈阿密的凯斯亚中心举行的一场季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的凯尔登·约翰逊（0 号）在第三节对阵迈阿密热火队的比赛中带球突破德鲁·史密斯（Dru Smith）（12 号）的防守。
10 月 12 日，星期六，在圣安东尼奥举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛下半场对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)（33 号）和凯尔登·约翰逊在一个进球后做出反应。(美联社照片/达伦·阿巴特)
10 月 12 日，星期六，在圣安东尼奥举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛上半场，犹他爵士队的布莱斯·森萨博(Brice Sensabaugh)（28 号）与圣安东尼奥马刺队的凯尔登·约翰逊（中）发生碰撞。(美联社照片/达伦·阿巴特)
德克萨斯州休斯顿——10 月 17 日：2024 年 10 月 17 日，在德克萨斯州休斯顿丰田中心举行的一场季前赛上半场，休斯顿火箭队的阿尔佩伦·申京(Alperen Sengun)（28 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）的防守下进攻篮筐。
10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯顿丰田中心举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛下半场，休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)（4 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）的防守下上篮得分。
10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯顿举行的一场 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（54 号）、前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）和休斯顿火箭队前锋塔里·伊森（Tari Eason）（右）在争抢篮板。(美联社照片/埃里克·克里斯蒂安·史密斯)
10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯顿举行的一场 NBA 季前赛上半场，休斯顿火箭队中锋阿尔佩伦·申京（28 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）的防守下投篮。(美联社照片/埃里克·克里斯蒂安·史密斯)
点击查看原文：Chris Paul set to join exclusive club in his Spurs debut
Chris Paul set to join exclusive club in his Spurs debut
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) drives against Utah Jazz’s Cody Williams (5) and Kyle Filipowski during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 126-120. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
DALLAS – Twenty years in, the season-opening jitters are still there for Chris Paul.
The Spurs’ new starting point guard views this as a good thing.
“I’m excited and privileged to still get a chance to go out and compete,” Paul said.
Having signed a one-year, $10.5-million deal to come to San Antonio in July, the 39-year-old All-Star is set to make his debut with his new club Thursday when the Spurs open the regular season at Dallas.
In doing so, Paul is set to join a rare club in NBA history.
Only 10 players in league annals have completed 20 NBA seasons. Only one active player – the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James – has accomplished that feat.
Paul aims to savor every minute of what could be his final professional campaign.
“I’m going to try and be as available as possible for every game,” Paul said. “That comes with caring for your body day in and day out, making sure you’re ready.”
Paul has come a long way since making his NBA debut Nov. 1, 2005 as a 19-year-old point guard for the New Orleans team then known as the Hornets.
Since then, Paul has enjoyed stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Golden State.
The Warriors moved on from Paul after one season, in which he appeared in 58 games – most of them off the bench – while averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 assists.
That freed Paul up to sign with the Spurs, where he is expected to start as many games as he can handle.
Already in the preseason, Paul drew rave reviews from his new teammates.
“He just makes your life easier, man,” center Zach Collins said. “He’s so good at manipulating things and knowing what he wants to do and having two or three setups confusing the defense. It’s fun to be out there with him.”
Paul insists he is not one for load management. He plans to play in as many games as his body will allow.
Age could factor into those plans. Paul has appeared in more than 70 games only one season since turning 30.
So far, Paul said, his body feels good. With retirement on the horizon, Paul intends to make every game count.
“One day – probably pretty soon – I won’t be able to play anymore,” Paul said. “Any opportunity I get to play, I want to try to take advantage of it.”
Barnes relishes Iron Man reputation
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the team departed for Dallas he had not yet finalized the starting lineup for the season opener.
Whatever configuration Popovich ultimately decides, it is a safe bet Harrison Barnes will be in it.
The Spurs’ other veteran offseason addition, Barnes, arrives as something as an Iron Man. The 32-year-old forward, acquired in an offseason trade with Sacramento, has played in and started 82 games in each of the past two seasons for the Kings.
It is a distinction Barnes said is important to him.
“I think it’s important just to be available as many games as possible for your teammates,” said Barnes, who started each of the Spurs’ five preseason games. “When you’re trying to just build something and just having that consistency, especially in lineups, it’s hard in this league. So I think just trying to be out there as many games as possible to give whatever I can for the team is important.”
Barnes said he has talked with Popovich about how that role might play out in San Antonio.
“Pop is a straight shooter,” Barnes said. “Our conversations about anything like that have been brief and to the point. Do whatever’s necessary to win.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Johnson ticketed for Sixth Man duty
Keldon Johnson is expected to begin his sixth Spurs campaign coming off the bench, having shifted into the role toward the end of last season.
The 25-year-old small forward averaged 15 points in 42 games as a reserve a season ago. Johnson posted 16.9 points in 27 games as a starter.
“I’m not worried about starting or coming off the bench,” Johnson said. “That don’t matter. I’m worried about going out there and doing my job for however long I’m on the court and to help my team win.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Chris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 15, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic, second from left, looks for an opening past San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, forwards Victor Wembanyama (1) and Julian Champagnie (30) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul chase down a loose ball during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, speaks with Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Utah Jazz guard Jason Preston (10) tangles with San Antonio Spurs’ Chris Paul and Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 126-120. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Keldon Johnson #0 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Dru Smith #12 of the Miami Heat during the third quarter of a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 15, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
San Antonio Spurs’ Tre Jones (33) and Keldon Johnson react after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Utah Jazz’s Brice Sensabaugh (28) collides with San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 17: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets works to the basket against Harrison Barnes #40 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on October 17, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) goes up to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54), forward Harrison Barnes (40), and Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, right, compete for a rebound during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
By Jeff McDonald, Spurs writer, via San Antonio Express-News