Chris Paul shouting ‘Hell Nah’ at Andre Roberson after an airball is peak NBA preseason
The most disrespectul closeout of all time.
Oklahoma City’s Andre Roberson is a career 26 percent three-point shooter with a slow, ugly release. This is not the first time that an opponent left him wide open, only for him to miss badly.
But this clip from Tuesday’s preseason game is special for four reasons.
1. “HELL NAW”
There’s nothing better than watching a fellow pro disrespect one of his peers like this. Almost every NBA player can easily make a wide-open three. When they can’t — and especially when they miss this horribly — it’s extra satisfying to watch an opponent rub it in their face in the most brutal way possible like Chris Paul did.
This isn’t quite as rude as Draymond Green shouting it before this Josh Smith free throw bricked, but it’s pretty close.
2. The OKC bench
Supporting teammates is the name of the game, but this is way too much confidence in a career 26 percent three-point shooter.
Still, my favorite part of this clip is ...
3. Chris Paul’s “closeout”
ENHANCE.
Paul is standing miles from Roberson. He’s already committed to letting Roberson shoot. And yet, instead of just standing there, he instinctually puts his hand up, as if his presence as a 6’0 dude standing 22 feet away from the shooter makes a difference.
Even better, he realizes it mid closeout! Immediately, the hand comes down, as if Paul is waiving away an effort that isn’t worth his time. Look at how dismissive he is!
This is so much more disrespectful than if Paul simply kept his hands down. And the disrespect is merited, because ...
4. Roberson missed by three feet
We cannot take this for granted. He didn’t just miss. He missed worse than any of us would have missed that shot.
Thank you, NBA preseason, for providing this glorious moment.
