NBA FINALS: BUCKS VS. SUNS

July 20, 2021

Chris Paul

Phoenix Suns

Game 6: Postgame

Milwaukee Bucks - 105, Phoenix Suns - 98

Q. What do you feel like was the difference tonight? Honestly, Giannis having the 50, but what did you feel like you guys maybe didn't do to close this out?

CHRIS PAUL: I ain't seen a box score. It felt like a lot of turnovers. Come out to start the third quarter we had a few wide open shots, didn't knock them down. Then it was the same old thing, just about every game, the free throws. You know what I mean? They made timely shots, we didn't. We didn't get stops when we needed to and they just beat us.

Q. Your first season in Phoenix and you talked about how much you love being with the guys and I know it's probably hard to reflect on that now, but just coming here and being able to be a part of this, what does this mean for you personally?

CHRIS PAUL: I mean, I'll take some time to think about that, but right now you’re just trying to figure out what you could have did more. It's tough. Great group of guys, hell of a season, but this one is going to hurt for a while.

Q. How would you say that the locker room was like? Any way you could describe what the emotions were like in there?

CHRIS PAUL: Just lost.

Q. Looking back at this whole experience, I know you're shy of making it to the championship, but what does it mean to have finally reached this pinnacle and have this experience?

CHRIS PAUL: For me it just means back to work. Back to work. Nothing more, nothing less. Ain't no moral victories or whatnot. We sort of saw what it takes to get there and hopefully we see what it takes to get past that.

Q. What does it feel like?

CHRIS PAUL: Feels like we just lost. You know what I mean? So, yeah.

Q. Knowing that for so long you worked to get to this point, is there any solace in, hey, I've had this experience and I can learn from it?

CHRIS PAUL: No.

Q. And I might get back here?

CHRIS PAUL: I mean, it will take a while to process this or whatnot, but it's same mentality, get back to work. I ain't retiring, if that's what you're asking. That's out. So, back to work.

Q. With all due respect, obviously you’ve got a decision to make in the offseason, how much will this season impact what you decide to do?

CHRIS PAUL: We just lost a few minutes ago, you know what I mean? Right now we’re going to process this and figure this out. I think everything else will take care of itself.

Q. Obviously, I know tonight isn't what you wanted to happen but when you look at the big picture of the growth with Devin, Deandre, what jumps out to you?

CHRIS PAUL: We grew all season long. Especially starting out the way we did. Nobody probably expected us to be where we are except for us. But it is what it is. Like I said all season long with our team, ain't no moral victories, so.

Q. You kind of just alluded to it with saying you have now kind of learned what it takes to even reach that higher level. Just overall, what do you hope that this group has taken away from the playoff run and that maybe what it does take to get to that final?

CHRIS PAUL: I honestly don't know right now. Like I don't know. Everybody in that locker room knows we had enough, but it wasn't enough. So, we got to figure it out. I think for me I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again.

Q. In that second quarter it felt like you were getting your flow back scoring. How were you feeling throughout the game and just getting shots to fall there?

CHRIS PAUL: I got to my spots a little bit more tonight. But I said if you watched us play all season long, I score when I had to, some games I didn't. Probably needed to more even in this game and probably some other games, but I mean I could be a Monday morning quarterback too, you know, analyze this and analyze that but at the end of the day it just wasn't enough.

Q. You and Coach have been on this journey together. I'm sure you guys had a moment just to talk, you guys talk all the time. How is he feeling about this because we can see how you're feeling but how is Coach taking this because he wanted it just as bad as anybody?

CHRIS PAUL: Yeah, I don't know. We ain't talked yet. We talked in there as a team and whatnot, but I think everybody got to process this and collect their thoughts. So, we'll figure it out.