Who is most responsible for the Phoenix Suns’ culture shift?

4. Chris Paul sets the tone for the rest of the Phoenix Suns

Believe it or not, CP3 deserves the least credit out of anyone for rebuilding this Suns culture. Of course, having a generation point guard and one of the most cerebral athletes of all-time shifts the way a team must operate. Coaches need to be open-minded, front office executives need to acknowledge they’re not the smartest basketball minds in the room and other players have to match his intensity.

However, the foundation for a successful, competitive Phoenix Suns team was set well before the future Hall of Famer was traded to the Valley of the Sun. The basketball minds in Phoenix could’ve easily made a play at CP3 earlier in the process, but they understood that there was work to be done first.

Most of the Suns’ rotation was either drafted by the team or acquired when players found themselves at crossroads. The infrastructure has been in place for someone of CP3’s nature to help bring them along, but the team built an identity before a CP3-trade was even plausible.

Averaging 13.3 points and 8.7 assists per game, Chris Paul is setting a tone for his team. He’s making his teammates both young and old better at their craft by teaching them with his play. Lining up next to Paul might end up being the best thing that’s happened to Devin Booker’s NBA career, but ultimately, he’s not the cause of this shift in Phoenix — He’s the result of it.