Suns’ Cam Johnson praises veteran presence Chris Paul brings

The opportunity to play alongside 10-time NBA All-Star guard Chris Paul is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the team’s younger players, like second-year forward Cam Johnson.

Johnson, appearing on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday, said he’s been blown away by having Paul around during the team’s training camp practices.

The former UNC Tar Heel believes that Paul, who was traded to Phoenix from Oklahoma City in November, adds a needed element for the Suns’ youthful roster.

“When he walks through the door and walks into practice, he’s somebody that we can learn from, that I can learn from,” Johnson said. “He’s somebody that has a lot of knowledge and he gives us a lot of confidence. Just having a guy of that caliber running the team, it makes me feel very comfortable knowing that he’s somebody that you can always trust.”

Johnson believes that Paul’s addition gives the Suns a venerable ball-handler that can provide valuable leadership in crucial moments, while also giving the team excellent production from their backcourt in the year ahead.

“He’ll always make the right plays and he’s a Hall of Fame guy. And you want someone like that on your team any day of the week and I’ll be confident going into battle with him by my side,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he’s not concerned about having Paul call him out during practice when he makes mistakes, as it’s a great way for him to grow as a player.

The key to continuing the team’s success in the league’s bubble in August, where the Suns went 8-0, is to have veteran leadership that holds younger team members to a high standard, Johnson said.

“I don’t think that’s anything you necessarily have to worry about because sometimes when somebody’s on you it’s because they want you to be the best version of yourself,” he said. “I don’t think he’s getting on me personally as if he had something against me, if he were to get on me.”

Johnson said he’s not worried about his role on this year’s Suns roster, as long as he’s able serve as a cog on a successful roster.

He finished his rookie year averaging 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, and wrapped up his rookie campaign as the fastest player to hit 100 three-pointers in NBA history, knocking off Wesley Person’s record doing so his 54th game as a professional.

For now, Johnson just wants to do whatever he can to allow the Suns to continue their bubble run, possibly guiding the club back to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

“I just want to help the team any way possible. I want to go out there and compete every night. And I trust the coaching staff and I trust my teammates too. And whatever we roll with we’ll get it accomplished,” he said.

“But goal number one is to win. Whatever role I play in that, as long as it contributes to more wins, I’ll be happy. Because I think this team’s capable of a lot of them, I think this team’s capable of going very far.”

Above all, Johnson is happy to have the opportunity to stick around the Valley for his second professional season.

Johnson said he understood why the team could potentially include him in such a deal and discussed how the experience was his first real run-in with the business side of the league.

At the same time, he’s thrilled that fans vouched for him to stick around the franchise, with the Pittsburgh native voicing his appreciation for his new home.

“If [the fans say] that I should stay, I take that personal, and I appreciate that deeply because I love it here. And I love the culture that we’re building, I love the team that we’re building, and I love the city,” Johnson said.

“And to know that there are fans out there that want me here just as much, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”

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