Chris Paul Resorted to 1 Mentality Only to Stand Strong Against Allen Iverson and More: “First Time I Played Against…”

Although Allen Iverson played the point guard position, he was best known for his scoring prowess and his abilities as a facilitator on the court. But one player that is synonymous with the term ‘floor general’ is Chris Paul. Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards ever. Although he is just 6 feet tall, he has learned to hold his own and play against other greats in the NBA. This is one reason he has 12 all-star selections.

In a recent episode of the Point Forward podcast, Chris Paul was the special guest. During his conversation with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, they asked Paul how he tackles the point guard position, which is one of the hardest to play. This led to him discussing the time he went up against Allen Iverson as a rookie.

Allen Iverson did not go easy on Chris Paul

The league has changed so much over the years. When Chris Paul was a rookie back in 2005, the NBA was completely different. Presently, the best player on a team is most frequently matched up against the best defender from the opposing team. But back then, defensive schemes were mostly based on just positions.

So even though Chris Paul was a shorter point guard, he was given the role of guarding NBA legends like Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, and so on. As a rookie, this was a tough task for Paul. Paul said, “People talk about like the intensity or whatnot that I play with. I play with that because, man, I came in and I had to guard them.”

Mediocre defense would not be enough to stop these great scorers. Paul had to learn to be persistent in their vision, and be a continuous nuisance, for them to struggle at least a little. But his toughest challenge was none other than Allen Iverson.

Paul said, “I never forget. Man, the first time I played against AI, I think he had 24 shot attempts in the first half. In the first half. I’m like, damn Chuck, pass the ball.“

But the mentality with which he played has helped Paul in the long run, as he is now one of the best defenders in the point guard position, even though he is one of the shortest guards in the league.

The window is too small for Paul

In the world of 3-and-D players and great shooters, Chris Paul remains true to himself. We don’t get to see traditional point guards like Paul anymore. Currently, the role of a point guard has evolved. It comprises either tall players with ball-handling skills or combo guards. Paul is one of the last true point guards. What keeps him above the rest of the competition at this age is his basketball IQ and his competitive spirit.

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But earlier today, during his match against the Sacramento Kings, Paul left the game early with an injury. It is unsure how long Paul will continue his basketball journey. Nagging injuries have always kept him away from the final goal.

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Do you think Chris Paul will win a championship before his retirement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!