There’s crafty, and there’s cheating. And the NBA is at a crossroads trying to figure out which is which. Most of this argument turns around the pervasive flopping (faking a foul) that afflicts the league, with some its star players like James Harden being implicated. But given how much is at stake, players are trying every trick they know — well beyond mere flopping and travelling — to test the rules and get an advantage. Take the Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul. Well known as a highly competent potential Hall of Famer who has been largely absent from significant playoff appearances in his career, Paul uses everything in his repertoire to try to succeed.
Chris Paul will be paid $44.2 million in the 2021-22 season.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) May 1, 2019
Below is a clip of Paul faking the need to tie his shoes to delay while his team gets its defensive strategy set up. That’s what playing against the 2x defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors will do to a player, make him have to fake tying his shoes just to be ready for Kevin Durant‘s and Steph Curry‘s next trip down the floor. The Warriors do not find Paul’s trickery amusing, but Paul has little inducement to stop. He is paid handsomely for his skills and chicanery. Chris Paul reportedly will be paid $44.2 million in the 2021-22 season, by which time NBA shoes may not have laces.
Chris Paul faked like he had to tie his shoe so he had time to set the defense 😂 pic.twitter.com/GplCHPP7YS
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 1, 2019
