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Chris Paul recently revealed on the “Knuckleheads” podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles that he initially didn’t want to work out with the New Orleans Hornets ahead of the 2005 NBA Draft.
Paul said that he didn’t want to work out for the Hornets because he wanted to stay closer to home. Once he worked out with the Atlanta Hawks, Paul was hesitant about going to New Orleans at the time and initially told his agent he wasn’t going.
I worked out for New Orleans, that was crazy. I told them I wasn’t coming to workout for them. I told them I wasn’t coming to workout because I had worked out with Atlanta before that and killed that workout. They had the No. 2 pick and that was closer to home but not at home. After I worked out for Atlanta, I got back to the Omni hotel and my agent called me and was like, ‘New Orleans wants you to come workout tomorrow.’
I was like, ‘Nah, I ain’t going.’ My agent was like, ‘Well, they said if you don’t come, we’re going to pick you anyway.’ I was like, ‘What?!’ Guys just think they are going to be able to say that. I literally flew into New Orleans the next day. You know how you normally stay the night? I didn’t stay. They just went 18-64 the year before. I didn’t really know anything about them.
Chris Paul went on the Knuckle Heads podcast and talked about not wanting to go to New Orleans for his pre-draft workout.
He also said Byron Scott took him to TGI Fridays during his visit 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/3Yxi6U0opN
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) June 30, 2020
Of course, the Hornets selected Paul with the No. 4 overall pick and he spent the first six years of his career with the organization. He said he enjoyed his workout with the Hornets and going up against head coach Byron Scott at the time.
Paul eventually went on to be named the 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 78 games played.
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