It took just one game of Chris Paul being back for the Phoenix Suns for an opponent to want to square up.
TJ McBride of Mile High Sports reported on Friday that Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green tried to get into the Suns’ locker room after Thursday’s game between the two teams. After the final buzzer, Green reportedly ran down the hallway past the Nuggets’ locker room and continued towards the Suns’ locker room. Nuggets players and staff prevented Green from further escalating the situation, and only words were exchanged.
The report adds that Green was upset about an incident with Paul during the contest, which Phoenix won 140-130. Paul, who was briefly teammates with Green on the Los Angeles Clippers in 2016, stopped in front of Green as they were going back in transition in the third quarter. Green, who wasn’t looking, bumped into Paul. It was a classic Paul bait move, and Green got a technical foul during the next stoppage after exchanging words with Paul.
The Nuggets and the Suns have some history. Phoenix won two of their three matchups this season after sweeping Denver in the second round of the playoffs last season. That playoff series saw tempers flare between the two teams, most notably in a heated incident involving stars Nikola Jokic and Devin Booker.
As for Paul, his irritant tactics, which are non-basketball plays at best and cheap shots at worst, have annoyed many opponents over the years. Green may have to get in line behind the long list of players who want to fight Paul.
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