Spurs' Chris Paul says chance to play trumped chasing ring - ESPN

SAN ANTONIO — In the twilight of his career, Chris Paul could have opted to chase an elusive NBA championship. Instead, he chose to go to a team that went just 22-60 a season ago.

Why? He still wants to compete.

«I love nothing more than the opportunity to play and contribute and hoop,» Paul said at his introductory news conference Tuesday.

Paul agreed to a one-year contract with the Spurs. He could have played closer to his home in the Los Angeles area but instead, he'll leave his family and play for San Antonio.

«My family is everything. My wife is here, my kids are back in L.A., and that's where they will be during the season,» Paul said. «And I love basketball so much that I could be close to home, but if I'm not playing, I'm not happy.

»And I love my family to death. So when we saw this opportunity, even though it'll put me away from my family, my family knows me better than anybody and they know that I just want to play. I want to play more than anything. And that's why I'm grateful for them and more so grateful to be here."

Paul also gets to join forces with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for the first time in his career. He said it was «an honor and a privilege» to be able to play for Popovich at this stage of his career.

«Obviously, I've admired Pop from afar for years, and when you're in this for a while, as he's done for a long time, there's so much respect there,» Paul said. «Not only for his basketball IQ, but just for who he is as a person, as a competitor and all of that.»

While discussing his illustrious 19-year career, all of which has happened in the Western Conference, Paul said he doesn't think there's a team he has played more than the Spurs — and he's correct. He has 81 combined playoff and