"There are no shortcuts to success for Chris Paul.

He takes his job of being a professional basketball player seriously. He works tirelessly at every nuance of the game. He prepares physically and mentally.

He is always looking to improve.

In essence, Paul is driven.

This is what the Clippers can expect out of their newest player.

"Everybody has a craft," Paul said. "For me, this is my craft. This is what I love to do. I analyze it and I dissect it to a 'T.' I just pay attention to everything. In any and everything that I do, I want to be the best."

Many feel Paul already is one of the best players in the NBA and the best point guard.

That's why the Clippers worked so hard to acquire the four-time All-Star from the New Orleans Hornets. They finally got him for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round draft pick.

Byron Scott saw firsthand how much Paul wanted to be the best, how willing the 6-foot guard was to put in extra work.

Scott, the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, coached Paul in the guard's first three-plus seasons with the Hornets.

Scott saw something in Paul that he saw in Magic Johnson, his former Lakers teammate.

"Both of them hate to lose," Scott said in a telephone interview. "They are ultra-competitive. That's really the biggest thing. The kid just can't stand losing.

"Another thing about him, which was with Magic as well, Chris just loves playing. He loves the competition He just has an unbelievable passion for the game of basketball. He's just fun to watch.""