Booker discusses 'heated' confrontation when CP3 joined Suns

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker discusses 'heated' confrontation when Chris Paul joined Suns

Originally posted on Game 7 | By Charles Kruger | Last updated 7/6/21

The Phoenix Suns arguably have been the best team in all of basketball over the past season. Regardless of whether they ultimately win or lose the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, what this group has done in the last year has been remarkable.

One big reason for the team’s success has been the excellent camaraderie between franchise star Devin Booker and veteran Chris Paul, but things weren’t always this smooth. In fact, they were quite heated in the early going.

Earlier this week, Booker opened up about what happened when Paul initially joined the team this past offseason.

“I don’t think it’s really about to throw hands, but you know the closest thing you can do without doing it.”

Devin Booker spoke about the competitiveness with Chris Paul in their very first practice as a team pic.twitter.com/gm7WTraje7

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 5, 2021

“I used to try bringing him to the post, every time he used to switch on me,” Booker said. “So, while we’re walking down to the post, he would be like, ‘I am not going for that, I am not going for that.”

Things eventually escalated.

“We were doing a 3-on-3 drill, and it was kind of like the survival of the fittest mindset,” Booker continued. “I don’t think it’s really about to throw hands, but you know the closest thing you can do without doing it.”

At the end of the day, iron sharpened iron. Booker is having a career year, and a lot of that is due to Paul’s influence.

Coming into the NBA Finals Booker is averaging 27 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent shooting from beyond the arc, as well as 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists this postseason. He has quietly turned into a very well-rounded player, and that’s a big reason why the Suns are where they are this season.

More importantly, he has also turned into a tremendously thick-skinned player. Nothing rattles him.

That mental toughness will be vital to the Suns capturing their first franchise title this year.

This article first appeared on Game 7 and was syndicated with permission.

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