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Chris Paul runs point for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it was his leadership as the President of the NBA Players Association that most of his comrades find most commendable.
On Thursday, after an almost five-month suspension, the NBA will resume its 2019-20 season when the Utah Jazz square off against the New Orleans Pelicans from within the confines of what has been commonly referred to as the NBA’s “bubble.”
And if you took a poll of Paul’s peers and asked how they felt he represented the collective interests of the players and getting the league back on track, you’d get rave reviews, echoing the sentiments of NBPA executive director Michele Roberts.
Writing for ESPN’s The Undefeated, Marc J. Spears published a brilliant piece on Paul and the role he played to get the league back on track. A recurring sentiment coming from players and coaches in their media availabilities over the past few weeks has been how well organized the entire production has been.
Spears spoke with both Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers and JJ Redick of the New Orleans Pelicans about Paul and what he has personally contributed to the process, and each heaped might praise on the floor general.
From Redick (via Marc Spears):
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for us being here… His leadership has been amazing. I talked to him a couple weeks ago before we came here. … The thing that really stuck with me was how many hours per day for literally months he was on the phone, on Zoom, talking to people representing himself for the players. He absolutely worked his butt off to make this thing happen. Incredible leadership.”
Poetically, Redick will suit up for the Pelicans in the very first game that will be played since the suspension. The Pelicans will take on the Jazz followed by the Lakers and the Clippers.
Kuzma, who plays for the Lakers, will also be suiting up on Day 1.
“[H]e is president of the [union] so there are a lot of things on his hands. As a union, we commend him for the work that he does.”
Spears also discusses the role that Paul played in the union and the league coming to terms on the agreement to allow players to wear social justice messages on their jerseys as well as the prominent featuring of the text reading “Black Lives Matter” that appears on the court in Orlando.
The Thunder won’t officially resume their 2019-20 season until Aug. 1 when they play the Utah Jazz. It’s safe to imagine that the contest will have special meaning for Chris Paul.