A couple years ago, Chris Paul joined several other Rockets heading toward the Clippers locker room for a confrontation. (The NBA determined Paul followed to play peacemaker.)
Last night, Paul – traded from Houston to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook last summer – was on the other side of a locker room entered by an opposing player after a game.
Mark Medina of USA Today:The fiery point guard entered the Thunder’s locker room. Within seconds, Russell Westbrook heard a stern and playful message.
“You’re in the wrong locker room,” a few Thunder players joked.
“The Clippers tried to suspend me for this,” Paul joked, referring to when the Rockets attempted to barge into the Clippers’ locker room following contentious on-court exchanges during a 2018 game. “Come on man. You got to get out of here.
Paul Joked? He might have said it in a playful tone. But Paul takes everything so seriously. Some players also legitimately object to opponents entering the locker room.
I respect Medina’s read on the situation, but I’m unconvinced Paul had no sincerity behind his words.