Checking in with Chris Paul: Rookie Hazing Edition
October 13, 2006
In 2005-06, Hornets point guard Chris Paul enjoyed one of the smoothest transitions from college to pro basketball one could imagine, wrapping up a fantastic NBA debut by capturing the Rookie of the Year trophy. Given Paul’s stellar rookie campaign, Hornets.com wanted to know what type of guidance and advice the 6-foot standout was providing to the team’s 2006 draft picks, Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons and Marcus Vinicius.
Paul touched on that topic and delved into how New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s rookies are being treated by the squad’s veterans following Friday’s 100-85 preseason defeat to the Orlando Magic at the Ford Center.
Eichenhofer: On Tuesday night, you and your teammates went with the age-old NBA prank of telling the rookies to lead the team out onto the court at the first preseason game. Of course, the prank occurs when the rookies all run out, but the veterans stay in the tunnel. Whose idea was that, and did the rookies say anything about it afterward? The fans at the Ford Center were a little confused when only three Hornets came out at first for warmups.
Paul: We were just laughing about it when it happened. Jannero (Pargo) was the one who brought it up. He said in the first game the rookies should lead us out. So they all took off and everybody else just stopped. I think they were pretty embarrassed.
Eichenhofer: Were you worried that any of the rookies would figure it out, preventing the joke from working?
Paul: Yeah, but we were egging them on saying, ‘Go, go, go, run!’ Then the courtside people told them to go too, so they didn’t have any choice.
Eichenhofer: Did the vets try to pull anything similar to that on you when you were a rookie last season?
Paul: [quickly responding] Nope! And that’s why I appreciated them so much. [smiles] They knew I was too smart for that. They knew they couldn’t fool me.
Eichenhofer: How much did guys on other teams call you ‘rookie’ or try to get into your head on the court during games last season?
Paul: Oh man, they tried it all the time. Any time there was a foul called for me, (opposing players) would tell the ref, ‘Hey, he’s a rook, he’s not supposed to get that call!’ It’s actually still that way now, even though I’m in my second year.
Eichenhofer: What else have you guys been doing to them to make sure they ‘know their place’ as rookies?
Paul: The same things that myself and our other rookies had to do last year. At shootaround, they have to bring donuts. Different things like that. To be honest with you, I don’t have enough clout to make them do too much. I’m only in my second year; I don’t want to do too much to them.
Eichenhofer: Considering you won Rookie of the Year last season, how much have the Hornets’ rookies approached you for advice on how to get through the NBA schedule, both on and off the court?
Paul: They ask a few questions. But those guys are both pretty quiet. I tell them (advice) all the time without them asking sometimes. I always tell them to play as hard as you can and have fun.
Eichenhofer: Cedric Simmons said he was pretty embarrassed about putting up that shot with a three-point lead in the final few seconds of Tuesday’s game, instead of just letting the clock expire. Did any of your teammates say anything to him about that play?
Paul: [grins] Yeah, we said something. We told him if you get the rebound, just hold it and we win. Because (Dallas) had a chance to tie the game.
Eichenhofer: Your teammate Marc Jackson got to introduce you and the rest of the Hornets’ starting lineup tonight during pregame. Give me your assessment of Marc’s performance as public-address announcer.
Paul: He did an outstanding job. Outstanding. But I don’t know if (Hornets PA announcer) Michael Thompson could’ve been too happy with how well Marc did. [grins] I think they should give Marc a chance to do that at every game. I could see Marc making a secondary living doing that.
Eichenhofer: So are you saying that Michael Thompson has reason to be worried right now?
Paul: Definitely. He better be worried. [laughs]
In 2005-06, Hornets point guard Chris Paul enjoyed one of the smoothest transitions from college to pro basketball one could imagine, wrapping up a fantastic NBA debut by capturing the Rookie of the Year trophy. Given Paul’s stellar rookie campaign, Hornets.com wanted to know what type of guidance and advice the 6-foot standout was providing to the team’s 2006 draft picks, Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons and Marcus Vinicius.
Paul touched on that topic and delved into how New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s rookies are being treated by the squad’s veterans following Friday’s 100-85 preseason defeat to the Orlando Magic at the Ford Center.
Eichenhofer: On Tuesday night, you and your teammates went with the age-old NBA prank of telling the rookies to lead the team out onto the court at the first preseason game. Of course, the prank occurs when the rookies all run out, but the veterans stay in the tunnel. Whose idea was that, and did the rookies say anything about it afterward? The fans at the Ford Center were a little confused when only three Hornets came out at first for warmups.
Paul: We were just laughing about it when it happened. Jannero (Pargo) was the one who brought it up. He said in the first game the rookies should lead us out. So they all took off and everybody else just stopped. I think they were pretty embarrassed.
Eichenhofer: Were you worried that any of the rookies would figure it out, preventing the joke from working?
Paul: Yeah, but we were egging them on saying, ‘Go, go, go, run!’ Then the courtside people told them to go too, so they didn’t have any choice.
Eichenhofer: Did the vets try to pull anything similar to that on you when you were a rookie last season?
Paul: [quickly responding] Nope! And that’s why I appreciated them so much. [smiles] They knew I was too smart for that. They knew they couldn’t fool me.
Eichenhofer: How much did guys on other teams call you ‘rookie’ or try to get into your head on the court during games last season?
Paul: Oh man, they tried it all the time. Any time there was a foul called for me, (opposing players) would tell the ref, ‘Hey, he’s a rook, he’s not supposed to get that call!’ It’s actually still that way now, even though I’m in my second year.
Eichenhofer: What else have you guys been doing to them to make sure they ‘know their place’ as rookies?
Paul: The same things that myself and our other rookies had to do last year. At shootaround, they have to bring donuts. Different things like that. To be honest with you, I don’t have enough clout to make them do too much. I’m only in my second year; I don’t want to do too much to them.
Eichenhofer: Considering you won Rookie of the Year last season, how much have the Hornets’ rookies approached you for advice on how to get through the NBA schedule, both on and off the court?
Paul: They ask a few questions. But those guys are both pretty quiet. I tell them (advice) all the time without them asking sometimes. I always tell them to play as hard as you can and have fun.
Eichenhofer: Cedric Simmons said he was pretty embarrassed about putting up that shot with a three-point lead in the final few seconds of Tuesday’s game, instead of just letting the clock expire. Did any of your teammates say anything to him about that play?
Paul: [grins] Yeah, we said something. We told him if you get the rebound, just hold it and we win. Because (Dallas) had a chance to tie the game.
Eichenhofer: Your teammate Marc Jackson got to introduce you and the rest of the Hornets’ starting lineup tonight during pregame. Give me your assessment of Marc’s performance as public-address announcer.
Paul: He did an outstanding job. Outstanding. But I don’t know if (Hornets PA announcer) Michael Thompson could’ve been too happy with how well Marc did. [grins] I think they should give Marc a chance to do that at every game. I could see Marc making a secondary living doing that.
Eichenhofer: So are you saying that Michael Thompson has reason to be worried right now?
Paul: Definitely. He better be worried. [laughs]
