Chris Paul made it to the NBA Finals after a long and storied career. Good for him. But let’s not pretend he did it the right way or that this is the second coming of Dirk Nowitzki and 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks. It’s most definitely not.
There are a ton of pundits gushing about how Chris Paul made it to the NBA Finals the “right way”. Dubious basketball-take peddler Kendrick Perkins has been the most vocal supporter of this viewpoint. It’s not surprising considering how little he seems to know about the NBA despite being paid to follow the league. Anyway, here’s his view of the situation.
https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1410700873819381770
Please stop. Forever stop this take. It’s nothing but revisionist history that is completely detached from reality. Chris Paul is in the NBA Finals, but this happened entirely by chance.
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Chris Paul didn’t make to the NBA Finals the right way
Let’s start with the most ludicrous claim from Perkins. Paul didn’t join a superteam because there weren’t any that felt his US$41 million salary was worth the trouble of adding him. If CP3 were a free agent and not under contract, he’s not going to the Phoenix Suns.
This also ignores the fact Paul twice joined budding superteams only to see things crumble around him. He linked up with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan on the LA Clippers in a move that was directly inspired by what LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh did with the Miami Heat.
When the situation went south at the Staples Center, CP3 bolted for the Houston Rockets where James Harden was desperate to form his own superteam. The pair even convinced Carmelo Anthony to complete their trio. It ended very, very poorly.
There is also an argument to be made that the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals has been a product of good fortune more than anything Paul has done. Sure, he’s performed well in the playoffs, but every team Phoenix has faced was without their best or second-best player.
Even then, the Suns aren’t some scrub roster that Paul has single-handily elevated. Devin Booker is an two-time All-Star, Deandre Ayton is a former number one overall pick and Mikal Bridges is a former top-10 selection. This team makes the playoffs with or without him.
Chris Paul made it to the NBA Finals, but don’t pretend he did it the right way.
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