Early in practices for Team USA in 2004, Kelvin Sampson watched his team. He was excited to coach the players. They were young, loaded with talent and full of promise.

At that point, Sampson had heard about most of the players who made the under-20 squad.

Most were college basketball superstars whose reputations preceded them.

But on that day, Sampson found out a lot more about guard Chris Paul.

During a drill called "cut throat" - where teams of four compete on offense and defense - Sampson saw the kind of player with whom he was dealing in Paul.

Every player on offense has to touch the ball before a shot is attempted. If a team scores, it stays on while a new defense steps in. If the defense stops the score, it moves to offense and a new group steps in to play defense.

Sampson won't name names, but one of Paul's teammates cost his team a win in the game early on.

Paul looked at Sampson and said, "Let's play again, coach. Let's do that again."

Sampson impressed

Sampson agreed and told Paul his team would take defense.

"Chris turned around and just snapped on that guy," Sampson said. "Chris said 'if you don't want to be here, if you don't want to compete and play hard, man, go home.' "

That was the second day of practice.

"He's tough," Sampson said. "He works hard, he competes. There aren't many like him. He's one of those truly great players."

Sampson and Paul bonded, when Paul was 19 and playing for Wake Forest, and have stayed in touch.

As soon as Paul, 32, was traded to the Rockets on Wednesday, Sampson - the coach at UH and a former Rockets assistant - was excited.

"That team just got a lot better," Sampson said.

Since the news broke Wednesday morning, Paul has been a hot topic of discussion at every turn.

Everything from the genius of general manager Daryl Morey's deal-making skills to how Paul will mix with guard James Harden to the Rockets being a contender in next year's NBA championship hunt.

Paul's skills on the court - some have him dubbed the "Point God" - are enough to get people talking, but Paul's tenacious leadership style is what's even more appealing.

"He can rub people the wrong way," Sampson said. "Because he works so hard. He is so tough, so competitive.

"He's a winner. He expects the best out of everyone around him."

As storied a career as Paul has put together - a nine-time NBA All-Star, four-time league leader in assists, six-time leader in steals - he carries a chip on his shoulder.

It started during his high school days in Winston-Salem, N.C., when North Carolina didn't offer him a scholarship.

It's well-documented Paul grew up a Tar Heels fan and dreamed of playing in Carolina blue.

North Carolina passed on him, though, because it was all-in on guard Raymond Felton.

Paul was never vocal about the snub. Instead, he signed with Wake Forest.

The night after Paul signed his letter of intent in November 2002, his grandfather Nathaniel Jones was robbed and murdered at his home.

When Paul resumed basketball, he wanted to figure out a way to honor his grandfather - a man he referred to as his best friend.

He and his family members decided Paul should try to score 61 points in a game to honor every year of his grandfather's life.

A fitting tribute in high school

In the season opener for West Forsyth, Paul scored 61 against Parkland. He intentionally missed a free throw at the end of the game to finish with 61 then collapsed into his father's arms at the end of the game.

That drive, determination and passion to do something special is a big part of Paul's personality.

"Chris is truly a special person," said Kyle Manary, who has directed the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp for nearly a decade. "It's all really genuine.

"This is a guy that cares about people, that has a really good heart, that wants to do good."

Manary, now the basketball coach at Angelina Junior College, is impressed with Paul's play, but he's more impressed with the way he works with other players.

Working with others

The Elite Guard Camp has hosted some of the top players in the country for years. The top college point guards are invited every year.

Guys like Stephen Curry, Isaiah Thomas and Trey Burke were among attendees.

"Chris Paul cares so much about basketball being good, being competitive, that he will work with and share everything he does with guys he knows will end up being his competitors someday," Manary said. "That says a lot about him."

Current NBA guard Isaiah Canaan attended the camp when he was playing at Murray State.

He befriended Paul while there and the two have stayed in touch.

When Canaan played for the Rockets two seasons ago, the two met for the first time during the regular season.

Paul was proud of Canaan's development and growth. He always saw a similar competitive fire in the young guard.

The two were happy to see each other and catch up, but things changed when the ball was tossed at tipoff.

"He just wants to go out there and play hard and compete against anyone he is playing against," Canaan said. "I think I got that from him.

"I want to do the same. It doesn't matter who it is. He is the kind of guy who wants to win. He takes that seriously."

A lot of players in the NBA do. This is the highest level of basketball competition.

The difference with Paul is that he is one of the players who has figured out how to win, how to make everyone around him better.

"'No matter how many years I'll be in the NBA, I will always try to get others involved,'' Paul told the New York Times in 2006. "I really get the most thrill in the game out of making a nice move, making a nice pass tomy teammates and seeing them finish.''

Thrilled with assists

That has held true all these years later.

He remains one of the best passers in the game.

His play has been consistently good since he won Rookie of the Year with the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, to when he finished second to Kobe Bryant for MVP in 2008 (there's a strong argument Paul should have won the award that year) to his recent run with the Clippers.

The guy is a flat-out offensive leader in this league.

And he is one of the best defenders. A seven-time All-Defensive first-team selection, Paul, 6-0, shows his true grit and toughness on that side of the ball.

"He really doesn't get enough credit for it," Sampson said. "He's so good on offense, people forget how good a defender he is."

Paul brings all of that - his on-court presence, the aggressive play, the veteran leadership - to the Rockets.

The questions are there.

How will he and Harden share the ball? Will his personality fit with the team? Can the Rockets compete with the Warriors.

Rockets will benefit

The answers will come.

But Paul and the Rockets didn't come to this decision lightly.

There's a vision there. A way for it to all work.

Paul has always found ways to win, to work hard, to prove doubters wrong.

He's always chased what he's wanted and the Rockets seemed like the next step toward another goal for Paul.

Paul has done a lot in the game of basketball and will go down in history as one of the greats.

He isn't done.

He wants a ring.