Such personality is one reason Williams bristles when reporters, as some in New Orleans did prior to the All-Star Game, suggest there indeed is a rivalry between him and Paul.

Or that there should be, if indeed there is not.

"He's my friend," said Williams, a married father of two who attended a couple of parties with Paul over the weekend, competed against him (and won) in a skills contest and sat beside him to watch the annual rookie-sophomore challenge game.

When one particular reporter persisted, Williams — who first came to know Paul when they attended the same basketball camp — turned the tables.

"Do you think there's a rivalry?" he asked.

And when the same reporter said he did, Williams dismissed the notion with a simple "If you say so, then there's a rivalry."

Such public bonding was not common back in the playing days of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who seems to have accepted — in perhaps a nod of respect to not only William, but also Paul — the relationship.

"It's all a personal thing, I think — who you are as an individual," said Sloan, who has always had complimentary words about Paul, even though the Jazz took Williams instead of him.

"People always said (in the past), 'Don't sleep with the enemy,"' Sloan added. "But guys have friends."

Williams and Paul are just that, yet they don't let that get in the way of either exhibiting — each time they face off — the trait that may define both most.

"They get out on the floor, they compete against each other," Sloan said. "That's what it boils down to."

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On the air

Jazz (37-21) at Hornets (38-18)

Tonight, 6 p.m.

New Orleans Arena

TV: ESPN/KJZZ

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com