It was only two seasons ago since the last time Chris Paul played for the Phoenix Suns, but the major impact he had made in just three years is still respected by everyone associated with the organization to this day.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020, he helped the Suns end a 10-year (2010-20) playoff drought by helping the team go all the way to the 2021 NBA Finals in his first season. Setting the bar high, Paul guided Phoenix to make the postseason throughout his tenure in the Valley and achieve a single-season record of 64 wins in 2020-21.
As a Sun, Paul became the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in a career, the fourth with 500 double-doubles and was a two-time NBA All-Star among other accolades he accomplished.
The 39-year-old was then traded to the Washington Wizards in June 2023 as part of the Bradley Beal deal, but never played a game for them. Not even two weeks later, Paul was then flipped to the Golden State Warriors, who he spent last season on. He became a free agent and signed with the San Antonio Spurs this past offseason.
Though they are not teammates anymore, both Paul and Suns star Devin Booker developed a close bond that remains strong no matter what.
Before Paul arrived in Arizona, Booker and the Suns did not have a winning season since Booker was drafted in 2015. Being one of the worst teams in the league for multiple seasons with a superstar in the making in Booker, Paul was a complimentary piece who changed the trajectory of the team with his elite playmaking ability and high basketball IQ.
Booker has gone on to become the franchise leader in 3-point field goals and 3-point attempts, is a four-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and was in the MVP race during 2021-22.
After the buzzer sounded in Phoenix’s 104-93 win over San Antonio and both players embraced each other, Booker spoke to Suns sideline reporter Amanda Pflugrad about the tight relationship he has kept with Paul and how thankful he is to call him a friend.
“I told him I love him,” Booker said. “That’s a relationship a lot bigger than basketball. Obviously, we accomplished a lot on the court together but we made some memories off the court. Our families are locked in together. It’s a relationship that I cherish a lot.”
Video Credit: Phoenix Suns
Witnessing his former teammate develop into who he is today, Paul reciprocated the respect when he was able to witness Booker break another record on the opposite side of the court.
Needing just one point to hit 15,000 in his NBA career, Booker opened the scoring in the Suns’ victory with a mid-range jump shot just 23 seconds into the game on Tuesday. He became just the second player in franchise history to do so, joining the late Walter Davis (15,666).
While they played against each other, Paul praised Booker for the accomplishment, stating that it is a testament to how he carries himself game in and game out.
“Book plays the same way every night,” Paul said. “He wears his heart on his sleeve, competes night in and night out. I am glad I got the chance to be a part of a few of those buckets. Definitely congratulations to him on that.”
“Definitely congratulations to him on that.”
Former Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul praising Devin Booker on scoring the 15,000th point of his NBA career tonight.#SunsUp #NBA #PorVida pic.twitter.com/3NH9r8V9wG
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) December 4, 2024
Though Paul’s career may be coming to an end sooner rather than later, Suns fans will always remember and be thankful for the success he brought to the franchise.
Around the league, people commend Paul not only as a competitive player on the court but also as a class act off the court and how he carries himself. The way he has been able to lead by example throughout his career will never be forgotten regardless of the team he represents.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
