The NBA over the years has seen several superstars come and go. But only some of them have emerged as leaders. Chris Paul is one such player who has emerged as a great leader and has also been a superstar for many years. His performances for many teams over the years have been impressive and therefore he has earned a lot of respect all across the globe.
He has elevated every team that he has joined ever since his rookie season. That has been no different when he joined the Phoenix Suns. Despite being 36-year-old, Chris Paul took the Suns to the NBA finals last season only to lose out against the Milwaukee Bucks.
However, things were tough for Chris Paul in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers. Recently CP3 appeared on the Old Man and the Three and shared how he could not shoot the ball properly against the Lakers in the playoffs.
The Suns were out of the playoffs race for many years before Chris Paul’s arrival. But his arrival changed the team entirely and elevated the entire team. He changed the organization completely. The Suns made it to the playoffs and also shocked everyone by beating the then defending champions Los Angeles Lakers.
But for Chris Paul, it is not a happy memory to remember. Paul dominated the playoffs with his mid range game. But that was not the case against the Lakers as he picked up a right shoulder injury in Game 1 against the Purple and Gold army. While speaking to his former Clippers teammate, JJ Reddick, CP3 revealed how it was one of the craziest injuries he has ever faced in his long NBA career.
Paul explained, “Dribbling, that’s what I do. Bubs, I would dribble and the ball wouldn’t come back up. And it was the scariest thing ever, like I would dribble, ‘Whoa, why am I losing the ball?’. So it was a shot that I hit and I literally grabbed it and I threw it. I threw it from the right elbow and it went in, and I like turned and looked at my brother and I was like, ‘I don’t know how the hell that just went in’.”
CP3 jokingly said that he had no idea why the Lakers even bothered to guard him. Normally known for his shooting, Chris Paul averaged just 9 points, 7.7 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 38% shooting against the Lakers. It is heartening to see that despite their veteran underperforming the other players elevated their game to send the Suns beyond the Lakers.
