Former NBA ref rips Chris Paul's reputation: 'He's a great image cultivator'

Along the way, Paul was named to 12 All-Star Games, 11 All-NBA teams, won Rookie of the Year in 2006, and became the All-Star Game MVP in 2013. He also went to the NBA Finals in 2021 as part of the Suns, but lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

Apart from his impressive career, Paul was also involved in several rivalries in the NBA. Perhaps the most well-known of them at this point in time is against referee Scott Foster, an official the Point God constant clashed on and off the court.

Former NBA Referee Bill Spooner Blasts Chris Paul For Allegedly Destroying Scott Foster’s Image

While the beef between Paul and Foster has been going on for years, neither side has made any move to resolve things. And if former referee Bill Spooner is to be believed, the former Los Angeles Clippers point guard is the bad guy in this fight. In an article written by Jason Quick for The Athletic:

“Bill Spooner, the retired ref with 32 years in the league, said he thinks Paul has been building a calculated campaign against Foster. “I’m going to tell you, and I know you are recording me, but I get asked all the time: ‘Who are some of the tough guys, some of the bad guys?’

And when I tell them that Chris Paul, in my 32 years in the league, was one of the biggest a–holes I ever dealt with, they say, ‘Not Rasheed Wallace … or da-da-da?’ Nope. Nothing like (Paul),” Spooner said. “And they are like, ‘Oh, he seems like such a nice guy.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, he’s a great image cultivator,” Quick wrote.

Apart from building his Hall of Fame-worthy career over the years, Paul has also been one of the guys most people don’t like in the NBA. A recent online poll that showed him, Karl Malone, and Kevin Durant as the players with the most bad vibes.

It’s safe to say that the beef between Paul and Foster isn’t going to be squashed soon. Of course, that can all change years down the line when all of these issues have grown cold by that time time.