Chris Paul plays for the New Orleans Hornets, while Danielle Pulliam plays for the NIU Huskies. Seemingly different at first glance, these two basketball players share a commonality that created an admiration in the freshman Pulliam.

As both players lead their respective teams from the point guard position, Pulliam tries to help her teammates in any way necessary, just as she says Paul does.

“Chris Paul makes everyone around him look better,” she said. “I am a pass first-mentality point guard. I will give up my shot for somebody else’s. That’s what Chris Paul does.”

As the maestro for the offense, Pulliam came into the season focusing on doing what she can do to help the team. When head coach Kathi Bennett spoke with Pulliam on her role, Pulliam said it was simple: focus on doing the best she could every time she stepped on the court.

Pulliam’s teammates took notice of her strengths on the court and ability to play both sides of the ball early on in the season.

“She’s very quick so she utilizes [her strengths] on offense by constantly attacking the basket and trying to create for her teammates,” said senior guard Bianca Brown. “Also, on defense she gets up there, zig-zags, plays defense 90 feet, and that’s what we need.”

Coming in this season as not only as a starter, but in a leadership position, Pulliam has taken the role in stride, focusing on how to compete every game. She admits she was nervous the first game, wanting to live up to the high expectations set by the team, and that she still gets nervous sometimes.

But Pulliam’s attitude toward the game is something Brown says draws her teammates toward her on court, while off the court Pulliam knows how to relax.

“What makes her a great person to be around is on the court it’s business, but off the court she’s so silly and goofy,” Brown said. “It’s fun to keep that around because sometimes you get caught up in all the seriousness and you forget that it’s all about having fun and growing, but still staying young at the same time and enjoying the game.”