During the first years of the decade, the Los Angeles Lakers were still a relevant team in the league. However, things were changing as other teams were trying to take over the NBA, and the Purple and Gold tried to step up their game.
At that time, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant had the chance to be Lakers teammates. A trade between Charlotte and Los Angeles was in place, but former NBA commissioner David Stern decided to reject the deal.
Paul eventually went to Los Angeles, but to join the Clippers after the veto. The veteran point guard opened up about what it would have been like to play alongside Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles last month.
“What if that trade would’ve happened with the Lakers?” Bleacher Report asked Paul in a recent one-on-one interview.
“I knew that (question) was coming,” Paul said. “It’s even crazier to think about now, given the situation in the past few months — losing Kobe and David Stern.
“It would’ve been special,” Paul added about playing for the Lakers. “I talk about it at some points. Me and Kobe actually got on the phone and talked about this and that. Me and my brother were about to get on a flight to L.A.
“There are times when I think, ‘This would’ve been (special),’ but I can’t get caught up in that. It all worked out.”
Now he’s part of the Oklahoma City Thunder after a tumultuous tenure with the Houston Rockets. CP3 was once again called to the All-Star Game after the good season he’s having. In his 57 games this season, Paul is averaging 17.5 points on 48.6 percent shooting (36.1 percent from beyond the arc), 6.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMRJxakGjg
