The moment captured the affection the Phoenix Suns stars have for each other. It also showcased their willingness to call each other out.
As he sat in the press conference room following the Suns’ 118-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, veteran guard Chris Paul listened intently to what third-year center Deandre Ayton had to say. One of the most intriguing comments centered on how Paul, Ayton and sixth-year guard Devin Booker have learned how to coexist.
“We all got on each other and had candid conversations where we had to adjust,” Ayton said. “But candid conversations lead to wins, and it started to be great communication and constructive criticism and we just all take it into a positive and play together.”
So when Paul took the stage, he made sure not just to focus on his 32-point performance on 12-of-19 shooting along with nine assists. He also centered on Ayton’s double-double in points (22) and rebounds (19).