Gregg Popovich convinced Chris Paul to sign a one-year contract with the Spurs

After becoming a free agent this past weekend, Chris Paul has already decided where he will play in what could be his final season of his NBA career. The veteran guard signed a one-year deal worth more than $11 million with the Spurs, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.

After Golden State told the 39-year-old player that they would release him on the same day of his $30 million salary for the 2024-2025 campaign, the San Antonio club and the athlete wasted no time in negotiating a contract.

Now the player will spend his 20th NBA season in Texas, as he will meet with Gregg Popovich, as both hope to build a squad that will play in the playoffs around the rising star Victor Wembanyama. According to close sources, the famous coach helped convince Paul of his decision.

Breaking: Chris Paul has agreed to a one-year, $11 million-plus deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sources say. @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/K2rRHDTT44

– ESPN (@espn) July 1, 2024

“I spoke with Chris Paul… He is happy with the opportunity to meet with Black… Pop just sold him on the culture and what they are trying to do,” said Chris B. Haynes when he arrived at CP3 with the Spurs.

This past year with the Warriors, the 12-time All-Star accepted a bench role in California and started just 18 of 58 games, averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in 26.4 minutes. . Paul averaged 11.9 points and 7.3 assists per game.

After the loss to Golden State on March 11, Popovich delivered a special tribute to Paul. “He is one of the best competitors to ever play in the league,” the tactician told the media. “He is a great leader, his biggest rival. It’s always nice to see him.”

Athletic wrote about how the Warriors tried different packages to sell the star before letting him go. “From what I have heard, some combination (but not all) of Wiggins, CP3, Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody and a future first round pick were included in discussions with the Clippers,” it read.

Former teammate Brandin Podziemski admitted he shared “sad” texts with Paul when he found out he was leaving the Bay Area.

Sophomore NBA player Branin Podziemski is still adjusting to the league, as he is currently enduring his first free agency this summer. The young guard has lost two of his mentors this weekend, as both Chris Paul and Klay Thompson will continue their careers outside of the Bay Area.

The 21-year-old explained how he received the withdrawal. “See you Chris [leave] – I sent him a message yesterday, it was very sad,” he told the media at the press conference of the league in the summer of 2024. “But whoever shows up on October 1 is what we have to move about.”

“Even if we are a young team, or if we are old again, or if we are not, or if we have stars [Steph Curry] or not, we have to work with it and we have to find it,” said the rising star. “For me, that’s what I’ve been working towards. These 8 to 10 weeks, I’m getting better, I’m very close to being a star.”

On the bright side, Podziemski now expects he may enjoy an expanded role with the Warriors, which will include providing Stephen Curry in all areas. “[From] my opinion and how I would handle things, whoever is with us on Media Day we have to work with, and that’s all you can go through. When we’re at Media Day or training camp, that’s what we have to work on, that’s what I focus on,” he said.