Chris Paul, until very recently, was on the precipice of having a career marred by “what-if” and “if only.” A slate of injuries and disappointing performances had many questioning whether the guard would ever redeem his previous stardom.
Then the 2021 NBA playoffs commenced. Paul has propelled the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993, with the point guard dropping 41 points in the clinching game. He has reinvented his game in nearly every facet – he is physical, aggressive, dazzles with electrifying jukes and dribbles, shoots the ball from range, drives to the hoop, dishes out no-look assists and hits critical crunch-time shots.
Paul’s newfound energy is tangible; he is smiling, gliding up and down the court with an aura of excitement that had been lost for some time in the veteran guard. His passes are a little bit crisper, his shots fire out from his hands more quickly, his dribbles are quicker. All of these signs indicate a rejuvenated Paul in year 17 of his career.
Much of Paul’s reinvention comes from his perfectionist nature – after a not-so-perfect stretch of seasons, his inner perfectionism bubbled up. The result was an explosive guard who refused to be denied throughout much of the regular season and one who seems destined for an NBA Finals victory this year.
Paul’s career has always been marked by this intensity. It has not always necessarily panned out for him – he has had a career of trials and tribulations. But, he has also had many successes. His attitude and skill have recently synthesized in a way unseen in his career.
Paul is now in the 2021 NBA Finals, with the chance to permanently rewrite how records and history will remember him as a player in the league. Undoubtedly, the sports world hopes for a happy ending to Paul’s major legacy overhaul.
