Checking in with Chris Paul: Fifth Installment
February 15, 2006
Not much happened in Chris Paul’s world over the past couple weeks.
Well, other than Chris’ newsworthy interview with Charles Barkley on TNT’s pregame show; the Sports Illustrated feature story on Chris that appeared in the current issue; ABC’s Ahmad Rashad profiling Chris and detailing his memorable 61-point high school game on Saturday’s NBA Access special; and increasing speculation that Chris is being targeted as a potential member of the U.S. Olympic team. Nah, not a whole lot going on lately for the Hornets’ rookie point guard.
On the court, Paul was frustrated by having to sit out New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s past three games due to injuries. However, that frustration was soothed a bit by the continued improved play of Paul’s teammates, who managed to win all three contests.
Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer talked with Paul after Hornets practice to get the rookie’s take on his whirlwind past couple weeks, which also included his being left off the Western Conference All-Star team – a decision many hoops analysts decried. However, Paul was selected to participate in the Rookie Challenge, as well as the All-Star skills competition.
Eichenhofer: What kind of feedback have you gotten from fans in Oklahoma about the comments Charles Barkley made when he interviewed you on TNT’s pregame show? Charles’ remarks definitely angered some Oklahomans.
Paul: I think a lot of people took offense to it. Some people took it as a joke. I took it as a joke. You sort of have to know Charles Barkley, and know that he’s capable of saying anything.
Eichenhofer: You were saying in the locker room after the win at Minnesota that it’s obvious the team doesn’t need you anymore. What’s it been like to see the way the guys have played the last couple games?
Paul: It’s been tough sitting over there watching, but at the same time it’s exciting, because it’s a learning experience. You get to see different things that you normally don’t get to see when you’re out on the court. Like you said, guys are playing at a high level right now, and I think that’s only going to help our team and add to what we can accomplish.
Eichenhofer: The play you made in Oklahoma City against the Lakers on Feb. 4 where you caught a long pass, dribbled behind your back twice and scored has been shown on numerous highlight reels. What’s been your personal favorite highlight so far?
Paul: Either that play against the Lakers, or the move I had in Milwaukee [a crossover dribble and layup against Bucks point guard T.J. Ford that prompted excited Hornets assistant coach Darrell Walker to yell, “T.J., don’t let him shake you like that.”]
Eichenhofer: What did you think about Kirk Snyder’s nasty dunk in the Lakers game, when he nearly jumped over Von Wafer? I think it was SportsCenter’s top highlight from that day.
Paul: That was one of the best dunks I’ve ever seen in my life.
Eichenhofer: There was a day-in-the-life article about you in Sports Illustrated this week. Did they have a writer trailing you around Oklahoma City?
Paul: Yeah. It was cool. Sports Illustrated went and ate lunch with Speedy (Claxton) and I. And then they went with me, my brother and a couple other guys to the movies. It was definitely an honor (to be profiled in Sports Illustrated). I really appreciated them for doing that. I actually had an article in there when I was in college as well. It was great.
Eichenhofer: There has been a lot of talk lately that you are a prominent candidate for the U.S. Olympic team? How excited would you be about being selected?
Paul: I’ve actually talked to (U.S. national team director) Jerry Colangelo one time. He said after the All-Star break was when they would start sending out invitations. I’m pretty much keeping my fingers crossed. That would be a huge honor.
Eichenhofer: ABC television’s Ahmad Rashad did a very touching feature about your grandfather and the 61-point high school game you dedicated to him after the tragic death of the person you described as your “best friend.” When you see newspaper articles or TV features on that story, do you feel like it’s great for people to get to know more about your grandfather and what he was all about?
Paul: Exactly. Any time I see an article written about that story, I think of it as sort of memorabilia for my grandfather. A lot of times, before I got to the NBA, people who only knew a little bit about me, still knew about the story from what they saw on ESPN about my grandfather. Any of these stories where they’re talking about him, I look at it as a way for him and his memory to keep living on.
Not much happened in Chris Paul’s world over the past couple weeks.
Well, other than Chris’ newsworthy interview with Charles Barkley on TNT’s pregame show; the Sports Illustrated feature story on Chris that appeared in the current issue; ABC’s Ahmad Rashad profiling Chris and detailing his memorable 61-point high school game on Saturday’s NBA Access special; and increasing speculation that Chris is being targeted as a potential member of the U.S. Olympic team. Nah, not a whole lot going on lately for the Hornets’ rookie point guard.
On the court, Paul was frustrated by having to sit out New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s past three games due to injuries. However, that frustration was soothed a bit by the continued improved play of Paul’s teammates, who managed to win all three contests.
Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer talked with Paul after Hornets practice to get the rookie’s take on his whirlwind past couple weeks, which also included his being left off the Western Conference All-Star team – a decision many hoops analysts decried. However, Paul was selected to participate in the Rookie Challenge, as well as the All-Star skills competition.
Eichenhofer: What kind of feedback have you gotten from fans in Oklahoma about the comments Charles Barkley made when he interviewed you on TNT’s pregame show? Charles’ remarks definitely angered some Oklahomans.
Paul: I think a lot of people took offense to it. Some people took it as a joke. I took it as a joke. You sort of have to know Charles Barkley, and know that he’s capable of saying anything.
Eichenhofer: You were saying in the locker room after the win at Minnesota that it’s obvious the team doesn’t need you anymore. What’s it been like to see the way the guys have played the last couple games?
Paul: It’s been tough sitting over there watching, but at the same time it’s exciting, because it’s a learning experience. You get to see different things that you normally don’t get to see when you’re out on the court. Like you said, guys are playing at a high level right now, and I think that’s only going to help our team and add to what we can accomplish.
Eichenhofer: The play you made in Oklahoma City against the Lakers on Feb. 4 where you caught a long pass, dribbled behind your back twice and scored has been shown on numerous highlight reels. What’s been your personal favorite highlight so far?
Paul: Either that play against the Lakers, or the move I had in Milwaukee [a crossover dribble and layup against Bucks point guard T.J. Ford that prompted excited Hornets assistant coach Darrell Walker to yell, “T.J., don’t let him shake you like that.”]
Eichenhofer: What did you think about Kirk Snyder’s nasty dunk in the Lakers game, when he nearly jumped over Von Wafer? I think it was SportsCenter’s top highlight from that day.
Paul: That was one of the best dunks I’ve ever seen in my life.
Eichenhofer: There was a day-in-the-life article about you in Sports Illustrated this week. Did they have a writer trailing you around Oklahoma City?
Paul: Yeah. It was cool. Sports Illustrated went and ate lunch with Speedy (Claxton) and I. And then they went with me, my brother and a couple other guys to the movies. It was definitely an honor (to be profiled in Sports Illustrated). I really appreciated them for doing that. I actually had an article in there when I was in college as well. It was great.
Eichenhofer: There has been a lot of talk lately that you are a prominent candidate for the U.S. Olympic team? How excited would you be about being selected?
Paul: I’ve actually talked to (U.S. national team director) Jerry Colangelo one time. He said after the All-Star break was when they would start sending out invitations. I’m pretty much keeping my fingers crossed. That would be a huge honor.
Eichenhofer: ABC television’s Ahmad Rashad did a very touching feature about your grandfather and the 61-point high school game you dedicated to him after the tragic death of the person you described as your “best friend.” When you see newspaper articles or TV features on that story, do you feel like it’s great for people to get to know more about your grandfather and what he was all about?
Paul: Exactly. Any time I see an article written about that story, I think of it as sort of memorabilia for my grandfather. A lot of times, before I got to the NBA, people who only knew a little bit about me, still knew about the story from what they saw on ESPN about my grandfather. Any of these stories where they’re talking about him, I look at it as a way for him and his memory to keep living on.
