guest in JJ Redick’s Podcasthis former Clippers teammate, Chris Paul addressed the most sensitive topics, such as the defeat of the Suns in the last NBA Finals when they were leading 2-0, and this red thread that accompanied his career: the quest for an NBA title.
The former shooter summed up the situation perfectly, explaining that the best players had seen their careers validated in the eyes of the general public through this achievement and therefore asked him his perception of his situation as he turns 37 in three months. .
“A few years ago, when you would have been talking to me about this, I would have felt my stomach knot. Today, I am really at peace with it”answered CP3. “But even saying that, I’m still going to strip myself to try to go and win the title this season, next season, as much as possible. But I don’t say to myself: ‘If I don’t win one, I’m going to die!’. I’ve had all these years to think about it and make this journey. But I’m in a great place where I can play basketball. And I feel so grateful and privileged to still be able to play. There are not many players left from my Draft.
The pleasure of playing before the rest
The leader has taken on another dimension since leaving Houston, first taking the reins of Oklahoma City and then living a great adventure with the Suns for two seasons. At this stage, he measures how lucky he is to still be able to play and be competitive at the highest level.
“I can only imagine the feeling of being champion, if only after winning the conference title last season. But I’m not going to lie, I’m sure there are guys who have won a title who would love to trade it with me, just to feel that joy of playing again.he added. “That’s what I was telling Coach Quin Snyder, I’m just happy I can still play. You may think I’m crazy, but that’s really it: I can’t imagine myself without playing. I’m still obsessed with sports. I would go crazy if I didn’t play anymore.
Before returning to the playoffs, Chris Paul takes care to savor every small victory, the latest having been the selection of his coach Monty Williams and his staff to participate in the All Star Game.
“As you said, in this world now, above all, you have to win, to get the title. But I think sometimes people forget the importance of also enjoying the moments along the way. I know we will say that these are loser sentences. But it’s the truth. My biggest goal now, and I talk to my teammates about it all the time, is to take my coaches to the All Star Game. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the small wins along the way. We all know what the ultimate goal is, which is to win a title. But we are not going to celebrate nothing, play and go to bed every night.
| Chris Paul | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2005-06 | NOP | 78 | 36 | 43.0 | 28.2 | 84.7 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 16.1 |
| 2006-07 | NOP | 64 | 37 | 43.7 | 35.0 | 81.8 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 8.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 17.3 |
| 2007-08 | NOP | 80 | 38 | 48.8 | 36.9 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 11.6 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 21.1 |
| 2008-09 | NOP | 78 | 39 | 50.3 | 36.4 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 11.0 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 22.8 |
| 2009-10 | NOP | 45 | 38 | 49.3 | 40.9 | 84.7 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 10.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 18.7 |
| 2010-11 | NOP | 80 | 36 | 46.3 | 38.8 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 15.9 |
| 2011-12 | LAKE | 60 | 36 | 47.8 | 37.1 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 19.8 |
| 2012-13 | LAKE | 70 | 33 | 48.1 | 32.8 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 9.7 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 16.9 |
| 2013-14 | LAKE | 62 | 35 | 46.7 | 36.8 | 85.5 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 10.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 19.1 |
| 2014-15 | LAKE | 82 | 35 | 48.5 | 39.8 | 90.0 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2015-16 | LAKE | 74 | 33 | 46.2 | 37.1 | 89.6 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 19.5 |
| 2016-17 | LAKE | 61 | 32 | 47.6 | 41.1 | 89.2 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | HOO | 58 | 32 | 46.0 | 38.0 | 91.9 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 7.9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 18.6 |
| 2018-19 | HOO | 58 | 32 | 41.9 | 35.8 | 86.2 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 15.6 |
| 2019-20 | OKAY | 70 | 32 | 48.9 | 36.5 | 90.7 | 0.4 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 70 | 31 | 49.9 | 39.5 | 93.4 | 0.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 16.4 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 52 | 33 | 48.9 | 33.5 | 83.0 | 0.3 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 10.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 14.9 |
| Total | 1141 | 35 | 47.3 | 37.0 | 87.1 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 9.5 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 18.2 | |
