Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe, who was a star of the New York Knicks in the 70s, has chatted for the medium NY Post where he has acknowledged that he would like to see Chris Paul wear the New York Knicks jersey.
The veteran point guard, now with the Phoenix Suns, is playing in the NBA Finals in search of his first title at age 36. The team led by Monty Williams leads 2-0 against the Bucks with an outstanding CP3, who seems to be living a second youth in the Arizona Desert.
“I’d like to see him play at the Garden,” Earl Monroe admitted. “His game is made for 33rd Street in New York. I would like to see him in the Knicks, but I don’t know if that could happen. With him you will fight for the championship. But I don’t know if the Knicks could fight it if they don’t get another piece, “he explained.
Sources close to Chris Paul recently reported that he will reject his player option valued at 44 million dollars for the 2021-22 course, and that he will negotiate a new commitment for three or four additional years and around 100 million. The Suns would have many ballots to retain him if they finally manage to win the first title in their history.
“Paul is like an old school point guard who understands this sport and also plays like today. If you think about it a bit, he’s like Mark Jackson but a better shooter ”, he highlighted.
Monroe, 76, wore the colors of the Washington Bullets and New York Knicks in his 14 courses as a professional. It was in the Knickerbockers where would be one of the best backcourts in the league with Walt Frazier, winning his only ring champion in 1973 after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals by a resounding 4-1.
In that 1972-73 season, he would average 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.6 minutes of play. Among his many accolades is the 1973 champion ring; he was a four-time All-Star; once a member of the NBA Best Team in 1969; Rookie of the Year in 1968; and has retired numbers 15 and number 10 in New York and Washington respectively.
“The fact is, he can shoot from all those mid-range points or how he handles the ball to find the open man,” he explained. “Understand how close you can be to the basket, and it makes your percentages grow. Know what your strengths are and you are going to use them. Perhaps he has returned to give importance to the medium distance shot, as Stephen Curry did with the triples, “he concluded.
(Cover photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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