Chris Paul is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history. His teammates have consistently praised him for his leadership, work ethic, and basketball IQ.
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He has built a reputation as a fierce competitor who leads by example and sets the standard for professionalism. Many of his former teammates have spoken highly of him, with several calling him the best teammate they’ve ever had.
His ability to lead and inspire those around him has been praised by both veterans and younger players. He has a reputation for being a mentor to younger players, always willing to offer guidance and advice to help them improve.
In addition, he also managed to get the usually stoic Kawhi Leonard to showcase a rare expressive moment.
Kawhi Leonard laughed heartily after beating Chris Paul at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game Warmups
Kawhi Leonard was arguably at the peak of his popularity during the season after leading the Raptors to a championship. He’d built himself a legitimate contender on a new team in Los Angeles, with CP3’s old coach.
While the Lakers were viewed among the favorites and would go on to win the chip, the Clippers were considered close rivals. They did win their first 2 matchups that season, before the All-Star break.
You’d think that Kawhi would be quite happy with this state of affairs, back in his hometown. And you’d be absolutely right, judging from how he looks alongside Chris Paul.
You can see the joy in his eyes as he beats Paul during the shooting drill. Even though the TNT crew of Shaq, Chuck, Ernie and Kenny are interviewing them at the moment, they pay no heed. Barkley even remarks:
‘How did you get that cyborg to talk to you?’
Given the intensity of their game of 7s and how Kawhi celebrated after his dub, it’s clear that Paul probably didn’t even hear the jocular insult thrown Kawhi’s way by Chuck.
Kawhi’s laugh is really robotic
During his introductory Raptors presser, Kawhi Leonard responded to a reporter’s question with a strange and awkward laugh that quickly went viral. The laugh was sparked by the reporter’s comment about Leonard’s reputation for being a “fun guy”.
Leonard’s response was seen as unexpected and out of character. Many people speculated about the nature of the laugh and what it might mean, with some suggesting that it was a sign of nervousness or discomfort.
Despite the attention the incident received, Leonard did not address it directly and continued to focus on his basketball career. The Kawhi laugh presser became a cultural touchstone and an example of how even small moments in sports can capture the public’s imagination and become larger than life.
