The Golden State Warriors traded 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul to the Washington Wizards in July 2023, which resulted in the departure of Jordan Poole to Washington. This trade, now seen as a salary dump move by Golden State, led to Paul being waived in the offseason. Despite his brief stint with the Warriors, Paul was instrumental in providing veteran leadership to the team during his time there.
Paul, with 19 years of NBA experience, brought a fresh dynamic to an already veteran Warriors squad. His presence had a noticeable impact on some of the team’s younger players, who benefited from his Hall of Fame-caliber knowledge and leadership. His role in the Warriors locker room extended beyond his on-court contributions, shaping the mindset of up-and-coming talents.
One of the Warriors’ young players who experienced Paul’s mentorship was 23-year-old guard Lester Quinones. Quinones played 37 games for Golden State last season, averaging 4.4 points in 10.6 minutes per game. Though his playing time was limited, Quinones learned valuable lessons from his time with the team and is now set to further his career with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-way contract.
Upon Quinones’ departure from Golden State, Paul took to social media to congratulate him, signaling the strong bond they formed during their time together. Quinones, who appeared in 41 NBA games over two seasons, showed potential in his limited opportunities. Now with the 76ers, he hopes to leverage the skills and experience he gained in Golden State to advance his NBA career.
