This offseason, one of the biggest stories is whether Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will choose to continue his illustrious career for a 24th season. But another all-time great announced his career was done during this past season and that was point guard Chris Paul, one of James’ closest friends.
Paul and James’ friendship stretches way back, more than two decades, when both were still in high school. And James recently opened up about their relationship and gave his thoughts on the outstanding career Paul had.
“Fast forward to my senior year in high school, we’re playing in Greensboro, North Carolina during HBCU weekend,” James said on the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash. “There’s a tournament down there, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s goes down there and we’re playing a team out of North Carolina. We win that game and Chris Paul comes into the locker room and that’s the first time I officially met him.
“I was 17, I think he was 16. He was the best point guard in North Carolina at the time. I believe he was playing in that tournament, I believe his high school played in that tournament. But he came to the locker room, we met and from then on we kind of started like a friendship. To us playing in the McDonald’s game together. To me supporting him while he was at Wake Forest. To him coming into the league. Olympic teammates.
“I mean it’s incredible what he was able to do in all the stops he was in. New Orleans, with the Clippers obviously, I think his jersey is gonna be raised with the Clippers some day. Even his short time in Houston, making an impact there. His Finals appearance with Phoenix, and so on and so on. He’s definitely gonna go down as one of the best point guards that’s ever played this game, one of the most fierce competitors to ever play this game. And to add the icing to the cake, his daughter and my daughter happen to be best friends and that’s pretty cool.”
Even without him ever winning an NBA Championship, there is no denying Paul had a positive impact wherever he played and is truly one of the best point guards of all-time. Especially at his size and lacking elite athleticism, Paul was truly a savant, thriving and dominating with skill and one of the highest IQs this league has ever seen.
It is great that he and James have been able to maintain their friendship for so long and that their daughters now share a close relationship as well. And perhaps Paul will be one of the people James consults about whether he will continue his playing career for another year.
Donovan Mitchell declines comment on potential LeBron James return to Cleveland
If James does play another season, where he continues his career is unknown as he is a free agent this summer. Many feel there’s a chance he could return to Cleveland and end his career where it started with the Cavaliers, And current Cleveland All-Star Donovan Mitchell was asked about James potentially joining the Cavaliers, but wasn’t willing to offer much insight.
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