Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Explains Why Team ’Needed’ Chris Paul

While preparing Team USA for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Warriors coach Steve Kerr sat down with Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg and explained why his team “needed” to acquire Chris Paul in a blockbuster trade this offseason. 

“Our team last year needed another way to attack and we became a little too one dimensional with Steph [Curry] in high ball screens,” Kerr said. “We needed another playmaker to give us a different look and Chris is, as we know, one of the all-time great pick-and-roll players and he’ll know how to control the tempo. It’s hugely important—especially in playoff games—to have guys like that.”

Kerr’s transparency about his team’s dependence on Curry offensively is interesting to say the least since Paul’s role on Golden State has been the subject of much debate, specifically if he’ll start or come off the bench. No such decision has been made—at least publicly. 

The Warriors’ title defense came up short last season with the squad losing to the Lakers in the semifinals of the postseason. With the addition of Paul, Golden State will look to return to the Finals and win its fifth NBA title in nine years.