Former NBA referee Bill Spooner: 'Chris Paul, in my 32 years in the league, was one of the biggest a**holes I ever dealt with'
Spooner, the retired ref with 32 years in the league, said he thinks Paul has been building a calculated campaign against Foster. “I’m going to tell you, and I know you are recording me, but I get asked all the time: ‘Who are some of the tough guys, some of the bad guys?’ And when I tell them that Chris Paul, in my 32 years in the league, was one of the biggest a–holes I ever dealt with, they say, ‘Not Rasheed Wallace … or da-da-da?’ Nope. Nothing like (Paul),” Spooner said. “And they are like, ‘Oh, he seems like such a nice guy.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, he’s a great image cultivator.’”
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Former NBA referee calls Chris Paul ‘one of the biggest a**holes I ever dealt with’
nbcsports.com/nba/news/forme… – 7:47 PM
Former NBA referee calls Chris Paul ‘one of the biggest a**holes I ever dealt with’
nbcsports.com/nba/news/forme… – 7:47 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Ex-NBA referee calls Chris Paul ‘one of the biggest a–holes’ in the league while defending Scott Foster
cbssports.com/nba/news/ex-nb… – 2:42 PM
Ex-NBA referee calls Chris Paul ‘one of the biggest a–holes’ in the league while defending Scott Foster
cbssports.com/nba/news/ex-nb… – 2:42 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
I wonder what would have happened had Jalen Williams not caught that toss from Luka Doncic. Would have been a Chris Paul-level gamesmanship by JDub to try and get a second tech on Luka. Who knows if it would have worked. – 9:39 PM
I wonder what would have happened had Jalen Williams not caught that toss from Luka Doncic. Would have been a Chris Paul-level gamesmanship by JDub to try and get a second tech on Luka. Who knows if it would have worked. – 9:39 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
Chris Paul told @Forbes he wants to own an NBA and WNBA team once he retires.
Paul mentioned it could become a real possibility once the NBA expands.
LeBron James has also mentioned he wants to own a team in Las Vegas.
Definitely something to monitor over the next few years. pic.twitter.com/8OnbwiI9Vf – 1:38 PM
Chris Paul told @Forbes he wants to own an NBA and WNBA team once he retires.
Paul mentioned it could become a real possibility once the NBA expands.
LeBron James has also mentioned he wants to own a team in Las Vegas.
Definitely something to monitor over the next few years. pic.twitter.com/8OnbwiI9Vf – 1:38 PM
More on this storyline
After the game, Don Vaden, then the NBA’s director of officials, loaded into an SUV with the officiating crew. Vaden said Paul saw them getting into the car, and as Foster started the vehicle to drive out of the arena, Paul positioned himself in the middle of the exit lane, blocking their departure. As he did this, Paul turned his back to the car while holding the hand of his 5-year-old son. As Foster idled, unsure what to do, Vaden said he summoned a security guard to ask Paul to move. As the security guard was talking to Paul, Foster tapped his horn, and Paul acted surprised before moving to the side. “I got home the next day and was told there were accusations made that I did something unprofessional,” Foster said. “The NBA did an investigation and found there was nothing found that needed to be discussed or anybody talked to. And that was the end of that.” -via New York Times / May 20, 2024
During an interview with Forbes, Chris Paul was asked if he had a specific team in mind that he would want to own. “Charlotte is definitely home, but I’m open,” Paul said. “Especially if there’s expansion or something like that, I’m definitely open. I’ve been involved with the league for too long, from every aspect of it. Just knowing the game, understanding the GMs, player relations, all of the different entities, that’s definitely one of my goals. I want to own a team.” -via CBSSports.com / May 18, 2024
“Every year since I’ve been in the NBA I’ve been to a WNBA game,” Paul said. “I’m excited [about the WNBA’s future], because doing the union work, I’ve been involved in their union and just talking about ‘how can we grow their game, how can we do this or that,’ and they’ve just done it organically. People are finally starting to see just how amazing their game is. They have so many talented women, they play the game so smooth. Everything is really exciting and effortless, and I just think it’s going to continue to grow. And I want to be a part of it. I would love to own a WNBA team.” -via CBSSports.com / May 18, 2024