Chris Paul speaks to his fans for the first time as a member of the Spurs

It’s official: Chris Paul is the new point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. The former Warrior enters his 20th season with a Hall of Fame resume. He has been selected to 12 All-Star games, 11 All-NBA teams and nine All-Defense teams. Paul is also a two-time gold medalist. To say he has experience would be a gross understatement.

There was a time when if you told a Spurs fan that Chris Paul would be on the team one day, you would either laugh at them or berate them for it. The Silver and Black were involved in so many battles with the Point God that it created resentment toward Paul, but that resentment was the result of respect for his greatness. Paul always found a way to be a thorn in San Antonio’s side, but now he’s joined the good guys and has a message for the fans.

There has been a lot of talk about what everyone can expect from CP3, comparing the current version to his best. The implication is that he is not the player he once was and therefore his impact will not be enough to make a difference. That is a very simple way of looking at the impact he can have on this team in particular.

Last season, the offense stalled too often for a variety of reasons: they failed to make a good shot, they lost the ball, or they fell in love with a three-point shot that didn’t fall. Chris Paul will help stabilize the team in times of disarray by putting the young players in strong positions to make good shots. When Wembanyama played with a competent point guard (Tre Jones) last season, the entire team performed better.

With Paul on the team, Wemby will always have a solid playmaker on the court. There is only one ball, and the Spurs don’t need Paul to take 20 shots. Those attempts should be reserved primarily for Victor and Devin Vassell. He knows that. Helping the team build a solid offense will be a key part of San Antonio’s ability to win more games.