The Phoenix Suns reportedly plan to release veteran point guard Chris Paul. According to Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report, Paul has already been notified of the Suns’ decision.

Haynes adds that the 38-year-old Paul isn’t thinking about retirement and “plans to play for several more years and is eager to help a team contend for a championship.”

This would be a surprising decision in different circumstances, but it has become clear that the new Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia is not afraid to take big swings since he bought the franchise earlier this year. Ishbia pushed for the acquisition of superstar Kevin Durant ahead of the trade deadline, fired respected head coach Monty Williams, and is now moving from one of the Suns’ key players in recent seasons.

Chris Paul joined the Suns ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season in a trade from Oklahoma City Thunder and has been credited for helping transform an underachieving franchise into a championship contender. He was an All-Star in his first two seasons in Phoenix and played a crucial road in the team’s road to NBA Finals in 2021.

However, Paul has been a shadow of himself this season, averaging a career-low 13.9 points per game during the regular season. He also underperformed in the playoffs as the Suns bowed out in the second round to eventual Western Conference champions Denver Nuggets.

Despite his recent struggles, there is no doubt that teams will line up to sign Paul this offseason. One of the possibilities is his joining the Los Angeles Lakers, a team in need of a proven playmaker, where he would join forces with his close friend LeBron James.

The post Suns Plan to Release Veteran Point Guard Chris Paul appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Phoenix Suns are facing a daunting task in their Western Conference semi-final series against the Denver Nuggets. Not only do they have to climb out of a 0-2 hole, but they will also have to do it without their starting point guard Chris Paul.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Paul is dealing with a groin injury that will keep him out for at least one week. Reportedly, the Suns expect the 37-year-old to miss Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5 of the Nuggets’ series.

Paul likely got hurt during the third quarter of a 97-87 loss in Game 2 against the Nuggets. The veteran exited the game with less than five minutes remaining in the period and didn’t return. Phoenix confirmed that the player is dealing with a groin injury on Tuesday but is officially considering him day to day.

Chris Paul is currently averaging 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in the 2022-23 playoffs. While the Suns probably won’t have issues replacing his scoring output, they are expected to have a hard time without Paul’s playmaking and defense. Cameron Payne, who recently returned from an injury, is expected to be the starter until Paul is able to return.

The Suns will play the Nuggets in Game 3 on Friday night in their Footprint Center.

The post Suns’ Chris Paul Expected to Miss at Least 1 Week With a Groin Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Phoenix Suns’ veteran point guard Chris Paul continues to rise on NBA’s All-Time lists. His latest move came in a 116-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when he passed Michael Jordan as the player with the third-most steals in the history of the league.

Paul recorded four steals in the Clippers’ game, getting his total to 2,515 career steals compared to Jordan’s 2,514. The 37-year-old player is now only behind Jason Kidd (2,684), and John Stockton (3,265) on NBA’s All-Time Steals Leaders list.

Ever since he entered the league as a fourth overall pick in 2005, Chris Paul has been a menace in creating turnovers. He averaged 2.2 steals per game in his rookie season and went on to lead the league in steals on six occasions.

Paul had more than two steals per game on average in 11 of his 17 seasons in the league and never averaged less than 1.4 as a pro. Even at the age of 37, he is averaging 1.6 steals per contest, which is enough for the 12th-best in the entire league in 2022-23.

While his feel for steals remained on a high level this season, Paul has taken a step back in other aspects of his game. He is averaging career-low 13.7 points per game, while his 42.6 percent from the field is the second-worst mark in his career.

The post Suns’ Chris Paul Passes Michael Jordan to Move Into Top 3 of NBA’s All-Time Steals List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The moment wasn’t too big for Chris Paul as he stepped on the court for his first career NBA Finals on Tuesday night. Instead, the 36-year-old veteran rose to the occasion and led his Phoenix Suns to a 118-105 win over Milwaukee Bucks and a 1-0 lead in the finals series.

Paul delivered an impressive performance against the Bucks, leading both teams in scoring with 32 points while adding nine assists and four rebounds. He especially came up big in the third quarter, when he scored half of his points while shooting 6 out of 7 from the floor and making all three attempts behind the arc.

While Chris Paul already compiled a Hall of Fame-worthy career, he never managed to reach the NBA Finals due to a combination of injuries, bad breaks, and tough opponents. He now has a chance to go all the way and cement his legacy while also bringing the Suns their first title in the history of the franchise.

But while the odds are in Phoenix’s favor, Paul knows that the things are far from over.

“We’ve been building all season long for these moments,” said Paul after the game. “We’re going to keep playing. This is just one game. We’ve got to stay locked in.”

Game 1 also saw All-Star Devin Booker scoring 27 points to go with six assists and three steals for the Suns, while DeAndre Ayton had a monster double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 17 rebounds for Milwaukee, playing in his first game since suffering a knee injury in the Eastern Conference Finals. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez added 29 points and 17 points, respectively.

The NBA Finals will remain in Phoenix for Game 2, which is scheduled for Thursday night.

The post Chris Paul Scores 32 Points to Give Suns the Lead in 2021 NBA Finals appeared first on SportzBonanza.

During Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan’s tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, in the early and mid-2010s, the team was considered one of the best regular-season teams in the NBA. However, they never managed to translate this success, which included winning 66% of regular-season games, to the postseason. Some would say this was due to their inability to perform when it mattered the most, while others might attribute it to a simple lack of luck.

Paul, who was the leader of the Clippers’ Lob City era between 2011 and 2017, recently made an appearance in the Quibi documentary Blackballed and shared his opinion on the team’s shortcomings. According to the 35-year-old point guard, the Clippers failed to leave their mark in the playoffs because they “never were lucky.”

“Doc used to always say in order to win a championship, you gotta be lucky,” said Chris Paul. “We never were lucky. I don’t think the Donald Sterling thing had anything to do with our shortcomings as a team. It was definitely a bump in the road, something unexpected, but that’s life.”

To Paul’s point, luck did play a certain part in the Clippers’ failure to win a championship with three All-Star-caliber players in their prime. Between 2011/12 and 2016/17, Clippers only had one year in which they had their “Big 3” fit enough to play. In all other seasons, at least one of the three was injured or out for a certain period.

However, the team also had real opportunities to make something happen, and they blew it. In 2014, all of their players were healthy, but they just couldn’t get past Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, losing the series 4-2. The following year, they managed to get a 3-1 lead against Houston Rockets despite Paul missing the first two games, only to blow it all and lose the series 4-3.

The post Chris Paul On His Time with Clippers: “We Never Were Lucky” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran NBA point guard Chris Paul, while participating in a conference call with media on Wednesday, said that players would need ample time to prepare in a theoretical return to competition in the 2019-20 season.

The NBA has been on hold since March 11th due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has forced the postponement of sports all around the world.

Paul, who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, serves as the President of the National Basketball Players Association, made it clear that players will need time to prepare to return to game action.

As he put it, “Whatever the amount of time is, just know that players will have the input, the say-so, because we’re the ones playing. That comes first. We don’t ever want to put guys in a situation where their injury risk is higher than ever before.”

According to the ten-time All-Star, the players believe that they will need at least 3 to 4 weeks of training in order to get to that point.

The league is still yet to announce a plan for returning to game action, meaning that everything is still up in the air for the league for its plan to finish the 2019-20 season.

The post Chris Paul: NBA Players Will Need “At Least” 3-4 Weeks to Prepare For Return appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Phoenix Suns reportedly plan to release veteran point guard Chris Paul. According to Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report, Paul has already been notified of the Suns’ decision.

Haynes adds that the 38-year-old Paul isn’t thinking about retirement and “plans to play for several more years and is eager to help a team contend for a championship.”

This would be a surprising decision in different circumstances, but it has become clear that the new Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia is not afraid to take big swings since he bought the franchise earlier this year. Ishbia pushed for the acquisition of superstar Kevin Durant ahead of the trade deadline, fired respected head coach Monty Williams, and is now moving from one of the Suns’ key players in recent seasons.

Chris Paul joined the Suns ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season in a trade from Oklahoma City Thunder and has been credited for helping transform an underachieving franchise into a championship contender. He was an All-Star in his first two seasons in Phoenix and played a crucial road in the team’s road to NBA Finals in 2021.

However, Paul has been a shadow of himself this season, averaging a career-low 13.9 points per game during the regular season. He also underperformed in the playoffs as the Suns bowed out in the second round to eventual Western Conference champions Denver Nuggets.

Despite his recent struggles, there is no doubt that teams will line up to sign Paul this offseason. One of the possibilities is his joining the Los Angeles Lakers, a team in need of a proven playmaker, where he would join forces with his close friend LeBron James.

The post Suns Plan to Release Veteran Point Guard Chris Paul appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Phoenix Suns are facing a daunting task in their Western Conference semi-final series against the Denver Nuggets. Not only do they have to climb out of a 0-2 hole, but they will also have to do it without their starting point guard Chris Paul.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Paul is dealing with a groin injury that will keep him out for at least one week. Reportedly, the Suns expect the 37-year-old to miss Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5 of the Nuggets’ series.

Paul likely got hurt during the third quarter of a 97-87 loss in Game 2 against the Nuggets. The veteran exited the game with less than five minutes remaining in the period and didn’t return. Phoenix confirmed that the player is dealing with a groin injury on Tuesday but is officially considering him day to day.

Chris Paul is currently averaging 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in the 2022-23 playoffs. While the Suns probably won’t have issues replacing his scoring output, they are expected to have a hard time without Paul’s playmaking and defense. Cameron Payne, who recently returned from an injury, is expected to be the starter until Paul is able to return.

The Suns will play the Nuggets in Game 3 on Friday night in their Footprint Center.

The post Suns’ Chris Paul Expected to Miss at Least 1 Week With a Groin Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Phoenix Suns’ veteran point guard Chris Paul continues to rise on NBA’s All-Time lists. His latest move came in a 116-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when he passed Michael Jordan as the player with the third-most steals in the history of the league.

Paul recorded four steals in the Clippers’ game, getting his total to 2,515 career steals compared to Jordan’s 2,514. The 37-year-old player is now only behind Jason Kidd (2,684), and John Stockton (3,265) on NBA’s All-Time Steals Leaders list.

Ever since he entered the league as a fourth overall pick in 2005, Chris Paul has been a menace in creating turnovers. He averaged 2.2 steals per game in his rookie season and went on to lead the league in steals on six occasions.

Paul had more than two steals per game on average in 11 of his 17 seasons in the league and never averaged less than 1.4 as a pro. Even at the age of 37, he is averaging 1.6 steals per contest, which is enough for the 12th-best in the entire league in 2022-23.

While his feel for steals remained on a high level this season, Paul has taken a step back in other aspects of his game. He is averaging career-low 13.7 points per game, while his 42.6 percent from the field is the second-worst mark in his career.

The post Suns’ Chris Paul Passes Michael Jordan to Move Into Top 3 of NBA’s All-Time Steals List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The moment wasn’t too big for Chris Paul as he stepped on the court for his first career NBA Finals on Tuesday night. Instead, the 36-year-old veteran rose to the occasion and led his Phoenix Suns to a 118-105 win over Milwaukee Bucks and a 1-0 lead in the finals series.

Paul delivered an impressive performance against the Bucks, leading both teams in scoring with 32 points while adding nine assists and four rebounds. He especially came up big in the third quarter, when he scored half of his points while shooting 6 out of 7 from the floor and making all three attempts behind the arc.

While Chris Paul already compiled a Hall of Fame-worthy career, he never managed to reach the NBA Finals due to a combination of injuries, bad breaks, and tough opponents. He now has a chance to go all the way and cement his legacy while also bringing the Suns their first title in the history of the franchise.

But while the odds are in Phoenix’s favor, Paul knows that the things are far from over.

“We’ve been building all season long for these moments,” said Paul after the game. “We’re going to keep playing. This is just one game. We’ve got to stay locked in.”

Game 1 also saw All-Star Devin Booker scoring 27 points to go with six assists and three steals for the Suns, while DeAndre Ayton had a monster double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 17 rebounds for Milwaukee, playing in his first game since suffering a knee injury in the Eastern Conference Finals. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez added 29 points and 17 points, respectively.

The NBA Finals will remain in Phoenix for Game 2, which is scheduled for Thursday night.

The post Chris Paul Scores 32 Points to Give Suns the Lead in 2021 NBA Finals appeared first on SportzBonanza.

During Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan’s tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, in the early and mid-2010s, the team was considered one of the best regular-season teams in the NBA. However, they never managed to translate this success, which included winning 66% of regular-season games, to the postseason. Some would say this was due to their inability to perform when it mattered the most, while others might attribute it to a simple lack of luck.

Paul, who was the leader of the Clippers’ Lob City era between 2011 and 2017, recently made an appearance in the Quibi documentary Blackballed and shared his opinion on the team’s shortcomings. According to the 35-year-old point guard, the Clippers failed to leave their mark in the playoffs because they “never were lucky.”

“Doc used to always say in order to win a championship, you gotta be lucky,” said Chris Paul. “We never were lucky. I don’t think the Donald Sterling thing had anything to do with our shortcomings as a team. It was definitely a bump in the road, something unexpected, but that’s life.”

To Paul’s point, luck did play a certain part in the Clippers’ failure to win a championship with three All-Star-caliber players in their prime. Between 2011/12 and 2016/17, Clippers only had one year in which they had their “Big 3” fit enough to play. In all other seasons, at least one of the three was injured or out for a certain period.

However, the team also had real opportunities to make something happen, and they blew it. In 2014, all of their players were healthy, but they just couldn’t get past Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, losing the series 4-2. The following year, they managed to get a 3-1 lead against Houston Rockets despite Paul missing the first two games, only to blow it all and lose the series 4-3.

The post Chris Paul On His Time with Clippers: “We Never Were Lucky” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran NBA point guard Chris Paul, while participating in a conference call with media on Wednesday, said that players would need ample time to prepare in a theoretical return to competition in the 2019-20 season.

The NBA has been on hold since March 11th due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has forced the postponement of sports all around the world.

Paul, who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, serves as the President of the National Basketball Players Association, made it clear that players will need time to prepare to return to game action.

As he put it, “Whatever the amount of time is, just know that players will have the input, the say-so, because we’re the ones playing. That comes first. We don’t ever want to put guys in a situation where their injury risk is higher than ever before.”

According to the ten-time All-Star, the players believe that they will need at least 3 to 4 weeks of training in order to get to that point.

The league is still yet to announce a plan for returning to game action, meaning that everything is still up in the air for the league for its plan to finish the 2019-20 season.

The post Chris Paul: NBA Players Will Need “At Least” 3-4 Weeks to Prepare For Return appeared first on SportzBonanza.