Will Chris Paul start tonight for Warriors? Latest on team’s lineup ahead of 2023-24 NBA opening night against Suns 

Chris Paul will officially debut for the Golden State Warriors in tonight's 2023-24 NBA opening night against his former team, Phoenix Suns. The veteran guard will be playing for the sixth different team of his career. Paul has been an undisputed starter throughout his 18 seasons thus far.

However, that is likely going to change this year. The Warriors already have an All-Star starter at the point guard position in Steph Curry. They're already an undersized team, so starting Paul alongside Curry in the backcourt isn't a viable option. CP3's status as a starter has been questionable, but he will start for the team against the Suns in the absence of Draymond Green, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.

The Athletic's Shams Charania shed light on the Warriors' plans ahead of their opening night contest against the Suns. The veteran insider reported about coach Steve Kerr's decision on Paul's spot in the rotation.

"Steve Kerr has had a lot of conversations with Chris Paul ... They're on the same page," Charania said on Fan Duel TV. "I think there is a level of momentum of him coming off the bench."

Paul was seemingly not receptive about coming off the bench. He hinted that initially during his first few interviews after the Warriors acquired him. However, the coaching staff seems to have had a breakthrough with the veteran star about his role.

Paul came off the bench in preseason in the Warriors 116-115 win over the Sacramento Kings on Oct 18. He was in their closing lineup in that game. It was his best performance in the exhibition games. Paul tallied 13 points, six rebounds and nine assists. He was crucial in the late-game situations, playing an excellent cameo while Steph Curry guided the team to victory with the game-winning shot.

However, the Warriors will start Paul according to the latest update. It will be interesting to see how the move works out for the Warriors.

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Chris Paul accepting a bench role could be pivotal for the Warriors

The Golden State Warriors starting lineup and bench production were night and day last season. That was the primary reason behind the team's struggles. The Warriors have always had a strong second unit during their championship runs, so they needed to bolster their depth this summer.

However, the lack of cap space meant they had to make bold moves and get crafty to improve their team. The Warriors got Chris Paul for Jordan Poole to stabilize their second unit. Poole was exceptional as the team's second-leading scorer but wasn't good at running the second unit.

He was inexperienced and so were the reserves, which saw the Dubs struggle in non-starter minutes. Paul is renowned for getting the best out of young players. He did that during his tenure with the OKC Thunder and the Phoenix Suns, leading both teams to the playoffs against their expectations.

The Warriors will benefit immensely with Chris Paul running the show in non-starter minutes. It also negates the size problem. Golden State can deploy bigger lineups, which is essential against most teams in the conference.