Chris Paul, the New Orleans Hornets’ talented point guard, leads the NBA in steals and assists and continues to be the team’s anchor. At the age of 23, Paul has already collected multiple All-Star titles and an Olympic gold medal.
The quick and agile Paul says his next goal is to grasp hold of a championship for his team. After a disappointing loss March 9 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Hornets’ four-game road opener, Paul gave rolling out sports his insight on the game he loves. –kim smith
How do you continue to prove yourself on the court, despite your size?
Just play the game with the same passion. Everybody has to shoot under the 10-foot goal, so I never thought about size as a factor. I continue to play hard and do the things I’ve been doing since I was a kid.
Team chemistry is vital in order to pull off wins. What role do you play in helping the team become a more effective unit?
Be the leader. Me, David West and Rasual Butler are the only three guys on this team that’s been here for the past four years. Me and D. West are the two All-Stars, [and] … our team expects a lot out of us, so we have to bring it every night.
Which coach has been most influential to your development as a player?
Coach [Byron] Scott! He wanted to draft me himself. He’s one of the guys who wanted to see me go out every night and play. He’s given me a lot of freedom since day one.
You have already made major accomplishments so early in your career. What’s the pinnacle of success for CP3?
Win a championship. That’s about the only thing I haven’t done yet. That’s our plan this season is to get to the finals and win.
