How Chris Paul embarrassed new coach Steve Kerr in front of the world

CP3

The Golden State Warriors acquiring Chris Paul from the Washington Wizards has brought up a memory NBA fans have struggled to forget.

2018

In Golden State's third title-winning season in 2018, The Warriors faced Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets, losing 116-108 to Kerr's Golden State team.

A meme was born

As Paul walked to his team's bench, 'CP3' faked laughing at Steve Kerr after it looked like the pair were joking following an altercation. A viral meme was born.

Picture – YouTube @Daily Swish

Why did he do it?

On Chris Paul's Instagram Live video, a fan asked, 'Why did you fake laugh at Steve Kerr?' Paul responded: 'Because that S@&t wasn't funny.'

Picture – Instagram @cp3

Recruiting Paul

Paul's embarrassment of Kerr hasn't stopped the Golden State Warriors coach from recruiting the highly talented NBA veteran.

Trying to beat GSW

Before joining Golden State, Chris Paul admitted the only team they tried to defeat in his time with Houston was the Warriors.

'Ready for one team'

According to fadeawayworld.net, Paul said: "When I talk about basketball, in those years I was in Houston, we played the entire season to get ready for one team: Golden State."

First title?

Now the 18-year NBA veteran will get a chance to join forces with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in attempting to win his first NBA title.

The trade

The Phoenix Suns sent Paul to the Washington Wizards before the Golden State Warriors shifted talented young guard Jordan Poole to the Wizards to acquire CP3.

Questionable

The trade has raised the eyebrows of many critics, questioning whether it is worth giving up a player who still has over ten years left in the league for a player who is 39 next year.

'A shift'

According to thespun.com, Steve Kerr said: "The biggest point is that we sensed we needed a shift. Didn't mean we needed an overhaul, but we needed a shift of some sort."

'Pretty significant'

"I think everybody in the organization sensed that. And it feels like we've made a pretty significant shift without giving up our identity and our sense of who we are as a team."

Coming close

The closest Chris Paul has come to an illusive NBA Championship was in 2021 when his Phoenix Suns team was beaten in five games by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

'The Dubs'

In the 2022-2023 season, the defending champions, Golden State, had an underwhelming campaign, finishing with a record of 44-38, sitting in the sixth seed.

Knocked out

The defending champions were eliminated by the seventh-seed Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-final in six games.

Can Paul be the catalyst?

With the addition of the 'Point God,' can the Golden State Warriors secure their fifth ring in eight years?