Chris Paul on 'CP3' Chants from Warriors Fans in Debut: 'I Couldn't Help but Laugh'

Future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul got a kick out of Golden State Warriors fans cheering for him Tuesday night after years of being on the receiving end of their vitriol.

Following a season-opening 108-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Paul addressed the "CP3" chants that rung through the Chase Center during the game, telling reporters: "I couldn't help but laugh. It was a first."

During the offseason, the Suns traded the 38-year-old Paul to the Washington Wizards in a deal for Bradley Beal, and the Wizards later flipped Paul to the Warriors for a package headlined by guard Jordan Poole.

Paul has spent his entire 19-year career in the Western Conference, playing for the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Suns before joining the Dubs.

Many of the teams Paul played for previously were in direct competition with the Warriors for Western Conference supremacy over the years, and since CP3 was often among the top players on his teams, that made him an enemy in the eyes of Warriors fans.

Paul and longtime Warriors forward Draymond Green had some highly publicized issues with each other as well, but they have since squashed their beef and they are now united in trying to bring a fifth championship to the franchise in the past 10 seasons.

Things didn't get off to an ideal start for the Warriors on Tuesday, although they played a close game against a Suns team that is expected to be among the top championship contenders in the Western Conference.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr leaned heavily on Paul in the opener, playing him 34 minutes, and while Paul only went 4-of-15 from the field, he finished with 14 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals.

Perhaps no team in the NBA has more established veteran talent than the Warriors, as Paul, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Green all seem to be likely future Hall of Famers.

Paul is the only one among them who has yet to win an NBA title, and given his age, he may not have many more opportunities.

Even though it was a somewhat frustrating opening night for the Warriors overall, the fanbase is clearly behind Paul, and he seems to be a good fit in Kerr's up-tempo system.