LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Chris Paul received a hero's welcome Thursday as the Los Angeles Clippers hope the addition of the all-star guard will transform them from league laughing stock to playoff contender.

Clippers rising star and NBA rookie of the year Blake Griffin said having Paul in the lineup would mean that when basketball fans hear about the Clippers, “it's not going to be a joke anymore.”

The star point guard was introduced to fans during a televised news conference at the Clippers' Playa Vista training facility on Thursday.

Paul, who is arguably the league's best point guard, met his new teammates before taking part in a practice wearing his new white number three jersey.

Paul says he is ready to get to work and didn't understand what all the fuss was about.

“This is not my day, by the way. This is the Clippers' day,” Paul said Thursday. “This is a humbling experience, and I'm so grateful and thankful to be here.”

On Wednesday, the Clippers acquired Paul in a four-player trade with New Orleans, outmanoeuvring the Los Angeles Lakers and several other teams hoping to land the four-time all-star.

Griffin said he was disappointed to see Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu leave the Clippers in the trade, but looked forward to playing with Paul. The Clippers also beefed up their offense by landing Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups this season.

In his opening remarks Paul asked the Los Angeles' reporters to go easy on him with questions. He didn't want to talk about last week's proposed deal to the Lakers that was scuttled by David Stern because the league commissioner felt Paul's old team, the Hornets, weren't getting enough in return.

“The other team (Lakers) have won championships, and it's about winning, but I think Blake has done an unbelievable job changing (perception of the Clippers),” Paul said.

“You can't take anything away from him about how he has changed the culture here in L.A. I'm coming here to join and be a part of it, and hopefully we can grow together as basketball players and continue to change everything. That's what we play for.”