Time to add another chapter to the Chris Paul “book of leadership.” Even at this point, with CP3 well established as a marquee NBA player both for his basketball talents and integrity outside the game, he continues to illustrate true humility and respect for those around him, reiterated in a story told by TNT’s Chris Haynes as the Phoenix Suns marched onto victory vs the Los Angeles Clippers last night.
Winding things back to Phoenix’s game against the Boston Celtics last Friday, Paul found himself still dishing out assists and hitting his typical mid-range pull ups, but with unfamiliar faces all across the floor. With half the team’s starting five stuck in league health and safety protocols, the Suns scrambled around before that game, signing several free agents to play right away, just like so many other teams did beforehand.
One of those signees was Emanuel Terry, who had last played at the NBA level during the 2018-19 season for the Miami Heat.
But even though Paul never shared the court with Terry up until that latest stint with the Suns, he still defended him like any other teammate, dropping some knowledge on a few Boston fans who surely needed it.
My @NBAonTNT report on Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul who had words with a few fans in Boston who were insulting 10-day signee Emanuel Terry. I detailed his message and the outcome. pic.twitter.com/4BYdKkNcRY
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2022
As mentioned by Haynes, Paul heard fans calling Terry a “one day guy,” to go with several other insults as the two sat on the bench. But likely to their surprise, Paul turned around and spat back at them, telling the obnoxious Bostonians to respect Terry for his efforts in keeping Phoenix’s season alive.
Paul later shared a thank you to all replacement players across the league who came in to help teams just like Terry.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the players with 10-day contracts who stayed ready,” Paul said. “You’re the reason we’re making it through this season and we couldn’t do it without you.”
Paul’s words surely resonated with those Boston fans, as Haynes later shared that one of them later sent Terry an apologetic DM. Terry himself shouted out Paul on Twitter yesterday as well.
Real Vet 🔋@CP3
— E's World🌎 (@EmanuelTerry08) January 7, 2022
Hearing a story like that while watching CP3 drop a triple double on the Clippers quite possibly describes the “Chris Paul experience” for Suns fans better than anything else. As he dices up opposing teams night after night, he simultaneously demonstrates the exact behaviour you want not only out of NBA players, but anyone you run into on the street.
With the Suns winning last night and consequently seizing the NBA’s top record, things continue to look good for the Phoenix faithful both with Paul around to defend their stance in the West, and players signed to contracts of all shapes and sizes.