The Phoenix Suns’ season has hit a massive speed bump, with reports that superstar Chris Paul will be out for the next six to eight weeks due to a thumb injury – but it was his actions after that news filtered out that caught attention.
Despite the reports, Paul checked in to the All Star Game late in the first quarter – raising the eyebrows of basketball fans around the world.
It was less than an hour after the story about his injury – an avulsion fracture in his right thumb – had surfaced.
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The point guard came in for Bulls standout Demar DeRozan and played just two minutes before coming out again.
Reports on the broadcast said Paul was looking for an “honourary assist” or two before coming back out of the game.
He missed his only field goal attempt and picked up one foul before Luka Doncic took his place.
Yet his decision to play any time at all left NBA pundits and fans dumbfounded.
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“We’re 48-10 and if we do miss some time I know the guys are going to hold it down,” Paul said yesterday before the severity of his condition was confirmed.
“There’s always going to be a frustration with injury. My hand surgeon is part of my family now.”
Paul hurt his hand in Phoenix’s 124-121 win over the Houston Rockets last week.
Paul was hurt when he got his hand jammed on a pass and argued for the first technical.
He then bumped into referee JT Orr a few seconds later to earn a second technical and an ejection, leaving the court holding his right hand.
“It didn’t feel good, I’ll tell you that much,” Paul said. “And then when you get ejected off some bogus stuff too, that don’t help, either.”
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The Suns currently have the best record in the NBA and are looking to go one better than last year, after losing the finals to Milwaukee in six games.
– with AP