Chris Paul is one of the most talented players we’ve seen in NBA history. The Point God has impacted every team where he’s played, improving their level every single season. Great as his teams have been, Paul is yet to win an NBA championship, coming really close last season, where the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 Finals.
He’s once again chasing that elusive ring, with the Phoenix Suns thriving in the Western Conference, boasting a 31-9 record that places them above the rest of the NBA. Paul is shining once again, leading his squad to the top of the West, trying to surpass what they did last season.
Much has been said about his inability to win the championship and while some fans often pick him for that, players know he’s incredibly talented and shouldn’t care about the ring since he’s had a big impact on the game.
Stephen Curry is one of those who defend CP3, praising him for his talent on the court, comparing him to other stars that were incredibly good but never won the championship. Talking with Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors superstar had nothing but good words to say about Paul.
“We’ll see how his career ends up, but there’s a category of guys who are undoubtedly top tier talent of their era,” Curry said. “It’s the nature of the ball not bouncing your way here or there, injuries, breaks, stuff like that. But perennially, a guy like CP, you want him on your team no matter what. He’s made every team he has been on competitive and better than they would be otherwise. However you calculate that or quantify that, it’s winning. You want to have the championships.
“But nobody questions his ability to impact the game and to win at the highest level. The championship will probably be nice for him, but that’s not going to define him. You got guys like Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Reggie Miller, a who’s who of Hall of Famers who haven’t won a championship. You understand how hard it is.”
Barkley, Nash, and Miller really tried to win the ring but ultimately retired without winning that championship. Even though they wished they could have done it, none of them is unhappy with the careers they had. Just like them, there are more players who had incredible stints and were unable to get a ring.
They all made history in their respective franchises and earned several individual honors. Unfortunately, the championship never arrived, but they left everything on the court to win it. Paul is still playing at the highest level and as long as the Suns have him on the roster, they will have a chance at the Larry O’Brien trophy.
