Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns made the NBA Finals last season, and that was certainly a great way for the franchise to break its playoff drought. They eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the process, a team that won a championship in 2020. There’s no doubt that the Phoenix Suns had a great 2020-21 season, and Chris Paul’s veteran presence was a key factor in the year that they had.
When speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Chris Paul was asked about the success he’s had with younger teams in recent memory, after playing on win-now teams full of veterans. Chris Paul revealed that his mindset didn’t change when he played with teams such as the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as stating that there’s “a chance to win” for his team whenever he touches the court.
"As long as I'm on the court, we have a chance to win"@Suns Point Guard @CP3 explains to @TermineRadio & @Jumpshot8 why he has so much confidence heading into the season #ValleyProud
You can hear the Suns Season Preview Show tonight at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT only on NBA Radio pic.twitter.com/uQscBM7oBm
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 29, 2021
I think it was just who I am. I don’t care who you put me out on the court with… I’ve always been like that. I don’t care what team it was, as long as I’m on the court, we have a chance to win. A really, really good chance if you ask me.
When I went to Oklahoma City, I didn’t expect to not make the playoffs. As long as there’s 5 guys on the court, I know this game I feel like better than damn near anybody.
I’m thinking as we talk… I ain’t never went into a game like “Damn they that much better than us, we gonna lose”. Nah, it ain’t ever work like that.
There’s no doubt that Chris Paul’s leadership and experience were key in getting the rest of the Phoenix Suns in the right mentality for the playoffs. At the end of the day, Chris Paul is a proven winner and it’s been documented that every team he goes to increases its winning percentage. Paul just needs a championship to finish his resume, and he was two games away from winning it with the Phoenix Suns.
Usually, the mindset is that you have to surround a superstar with great veterans to even make the Finals and succeed in the playoffs. However, the Phoenix Suns’ Finals roster was constructed slightly differently, and it featured a lot of younger players next to Chris Paul and Devin Booker. They were great last year, and perhaps they’ll be able to find similar success during the 2021-22 season.
