Chris Paul addressed the media for the first time as a Clippers player once again in an emotional press conference to start what could be the final year of his NBA career. Earlier this month, Chris Paul announced that he hopes this is his last season in the NBA. And in that ‘one last ride’ farewell tour-type decision, Paul decided to reunite with James Harden in LA.
In his first press conference, he addressed his relationship with his former Rockets teammate, as well as the viral clip that seemed to show an argument between Harden and Paul during their Rockets days. Paul admits that Harden and he have “unfinished business” together.
“Yeah, we talked about it and talked about just the history of obviously being there in Houston. And it’s funny, man, cause that clip or whatnot that goes around. It was a lot of stuff, funnier and stuff like that than that. That was just sort of our relationship.”
“But I think that’s what made that team so good, you know, we got on each other in different situations. But that team, I can honestly say, was one of the funnest teams I’ve ever been on in my career. And James is one of those guys who loves to be in the gym all day long.”
“And so, it’s wild that you get this opportunity again after those two years and the success that we had. And we find we definitely know we had unfinished business. So, we get a chance to see what’s going on here.”
This is the clip that he is most likely referring to here, which goes viral through separate social media accounts every now and then. It highlights the frank and transparent nature of Chris Paul’s relationship with James Harden.
James Harden and Chris Paul going at it in Game 3👀
Chris Paul tries to give Harden a fist bump, his response, “F—k the fist bump”. pic.twitter.com/qzJbJzlJcL
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 7, 2018
Harden and Paul became teammates initially after Paul left the Clippers for the first time in 2017. For two seasons (2017-18 and 18-19), Harden and Paul’s duo caused trouble in paradise for the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty era at the time. They were arguably the only real contenders to go up against the Warriors’ super team and have a fighting chance of winning.
In the two seasons that this duo spent together, James Harden arguably had the best phase of his career. In 2018 and 2019, Harden averaged 33.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Paul averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in the same duration. If not for Paul’s injury in the 2018 Playoffs, James Harden and Chris Paul would both likely have NBA rings today.
In 2018, the Western Conference Finals went to seven games before Paul’s injury cost the Rockets a chance at their first trip to the NBA Finals since Hakeem Olajuwon’s days. In 2019, the Warriors won in six games, but each game was decided in a single-digit deficit, showing how close the two teams were at the time to being at each other’s throats every time they saw each other on the court.
Therefore, Paul believes that the duo’s reunion in Clippers is a divine intervention on the duo potentially achieving what they always deserved to have, an NBA championship ring together.
