Doc Rivers: Chris Paul-DeAndre Jordan rift was 'way overblown'
The Clippers' Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan reportedly don't like each other. This much, we know. But Doc Rivers is out there saying we may not actually be right — or at least, we're exaggerating.
Rivers appeared on the Jim Rome Show on CBS Radio on Thursday and discussed some of the Jordan fracas, during which the center re-signed with the Clippers after committing the Mavericks earlier in the NBA's free agency moratorium period.
Here's some of what Rivers had to say, transcription courtesy of CBS's James Herbert:
“It was way overblown, let me just say that,” Rivers told The Jim Rome Show. “It's funny, at least his agent told me why he was leaving, and then DJ ultimately when I was able to talk to him. Chris Paul didn't come up a lot, especially from DeAndre.”
Rivers said Jordan and Paul's problems are normal for two players who are talented and highly competitive.
“When you're the point guard and when you're one of the other stars you're not going to always be happy, but overall it's a good relationship,” said Rivers. “What it did tell me, Jim, you are never done with relationship building and even the whispers that became screams, the fact that there were whispers means we can always get better at it and that's something we need to do.”
Obviously, Doc has reason to say this. He's got to run some PR and doesn't want these questions to continue. They can clearly be a distraction.
Either way, they're probably not going away for a little while.
(h/t CBS.)
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
