Paul has routinely been in touch with Silver during the pandemic regarding restart plansNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Lying "at the heart" of the NBA's endeavor to return to play is the "close relationship" between league Commissioner ADAM SILVER and NBPA President CHRIS PAUL, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. In '16, Silver, Paul and NBPA Exec Dir MICHELE ROBERTS "put together a tiring but relatively peaceful CBA extension after months of talks." When Silver called the Thunder G the day KOBE BRYANT died to "consult him on whether games should be played, it just showed how deep and important the issues they work on have become." Now, as the COVID-19 crisis has "persisted, Paul and Silver have routinely been in touch." Sources said that the two of them have been "at the heart of plans to restart the league" (ESPN.com, 6/1).
TAKING CHARGE: ESPN.com's Royce Young wrote since the season was put on hold, Paul has "emerged as one of the most influential -- and busiest -- figures as the league navigates a potential restart." In the era of player empowerment, there "aren't many who wield as much power as Paul," and his "goal is that the union has plenty too." Paul said, "We always make sure we have players -- plural -- involved in those conversations." Young wrote instead of "getting up shots in his team's practice facility, Paul has been having direct conversations with Silver more than once a week as the liaison between the commissioner and the players," and in doing so, has "served as a sounding board for those looking for advice, ideas or an outlet for their frustration." He has been "active every step of the way, preparing players for the many discussion points to come." As such, Paul, Roberts and the exec committee now have "started conducting Zoom calls with all 30 teams individually to provide details on potential restart options." As union president, Paul "possesses the rare ability to gather the league's top stars -- LEBRON JAMES, STEPHEN CURRY, RUSSELL WESTBROOK, KEVIN DURANT -- on conference calls." That buy-in "wasn't there before, and high-ranking union members view Paul's longtime superstar status as a big reason for the change." Roberts said of Paul's efforts, "Our meetings are much more engaged now. That's because of Chris. He won't allow an issue to be presented and then not discussed" (ESPN.com, 5/29).
