Thunder’s 23-1 Start Traced to Chris Paul’s 2019 Mentorship
thunder-23-1-start-traced-to-chris-pauls-2019-mentorship
Chris Paul’s lone season in Oklahoma City is being cited inside the organization as a springboard to last year’s championship run and the Thunder’s current 23-1 record.
Paul arrived in the summer of 2019 as part of the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston, bringing with him a cache of draft picks and a veteran outlook. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the future Hall of Famer regularly hosted his young teammates on off nights to watch other NBA games, turning the sessions into informal classrooms.
“Chris really was the first person to show me what it meant to be a professional,” guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He was always doing extra … nutrition, taking care of your body, massages, treatment—he just always had a get-better mentality in every way of life.”
Paul’s influence was even more hands-on with then-rookie Luguentz Dort. He purchased an iPad and a Second Spectrum video subscription for Dort so the undrafted wing could dive into film study. Paul also urged Dort to keep shooting despite sub-30-percent accuracy from three-point range at the time. “Lu, you play defense so hard that I don’t care if you miss,” Paul recalled telling him. “I just want you to shoot it and give yourself a chance.”
Lessons from a Cup Final Loss
Gilgeous-Alexander told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that a 16-point defeat to Milwaukee in last season’s NBA Cup final sharpened the team’s focus. “It definitely just showed us the formula for losing,” he said. “Before the schemes, before the scouting report … you’ve got to bring a certain level of intensity, focus and fight.”
Holmgren’s Expanded Offense
A healthy Chet Holmgren has been another catalyst. Limited to 32 regular-season games a year ago, the 7-footer has transformed into an efficient scorer at every level, Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated noted, producing in transition, pick-and-roll situations and post-ups.
Trade Market Impact
The Thunder’s dominance could reshape league dynamics. Kirk Goldsberry of The Ringer suggested some Western Conference teams may hesitate to assemble blockbuster offers for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo if Oklahoma City appears too strong to chase this season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
