The Western Conference Finals Demonstrate Chris Paul’s Legacy

Becoming a Role Model

 Paul’s stints in OKC and San Antonio were brief, but that didn’t stop him from leaving the franchises in better places than when he arrived. 

Each stop centered around a rebuilding team full of wide-eyed youngsters whose hunger to win rivaled only their thirst for knowledge. 

During his time with the Thunder in the 2019-20 season, Paul was a big-brother figure to the team’s young guys. He grew especially close with two players still on the Thunder roster today: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort. Gilgeous-Alexander was in his second year and had just been thrust into a new situation following his trade from the Clippers. 

He spent the season soaking up everything he could from Paul, like how to take care of his body and be a professional. 

“Chris was special for my career…off the court, he was the first person I was around that, like, really took care of their body, showed me the importance of the weight room,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “His life was really like a regiment, and it allowed him to be successful on the court.”

Chris Paul Mentored the Thunder’s Youth

The two-time MVP was Paul’s protege and appreciated how he cared for him. Paul recalls numerous evenings in which he invited SGA and Dort over to enjoy a meal prepared by his chef. Seeing the importance of nutrition and how CP3 sustained longevity in his career inspired SGA to change his poor eating habits.

“When I was younger, I ate terrible,” he admitted. “[Paul] showed me how to take care of your body and eat well.”

“He has been great, not only as a big brother, mentor, but he is like a friend. He is always there to lean on… And I really lean on him for advice, but not only basketball advice – business advice, taking care of your body advice, handling the family when they don’t live with you.”

Paul continuously invested in the growth of the budding star and his teammates, including purchasing an iPad for Dort during his rookie year so he could study game film. The gesture meant a lot to Dort, who was still on a two-way contract and trying to prove himself. Paul would often focus on studying certain aspects of the game with them, like playing in the pick and roll and breaking down defensive schemes.

His willingness to share his basketball acumen also made an impression on the Thunder front office. Thunder general manager Sam Presti appreciated the leadership he provided as well as the commitment to a team that wasn’t initially on Paul’s bingo card. 

“Working with Chris was great because you got to see that mind working every day and his level of detail and preparation,” Presti said. “I’m grateful because when we traded for him, it was a surprise to him, but he put two feet in here.”

Guiding Stephon Castle

In San Antonio, the situation was somewhat similar to that in Oklahoma City. Paul was away from his wife and kids, as they lived in California; the young team became his family. 

Paul fostered relationships with several of the Spurs’ players, including Stephon Castle. Upon getting drafted in 2024, Castle was thrilled at the thought of learning from the 12-time All-Star. He was particularly eager to pick his brain on being on-ball and using pick-and-rolls. 

It’s not a coincidence that Castle has grown as a playmaker after being teammates with Paul. The former Rookie of the Year winners had lockers adjacent to each other and grew close. Even though Paul is no longer on his team, the knowledge Castle acquired has stuck with him.

“What he showed me last year, I feel like it helped me this year,” he said. “He was a coach on the floor for us at all times, especially for me.”

Where Paul’s direct leadership style may come off as brash to some, his Thunder and Spurs teammates welcomed it. Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Castle felt a calming presence whenever he shared the floor with the future Hall of Famer. Still, who he was outside of basketball meant the most. 

“To have him on the court, it was a sense of stability. And then he was an even better person off the court, so super cool to be around.”

Paul Was an Anchor for the Spurs

Spurs guard Julian Champagnie described playing with Paul like having a coach and friend all in one. “Like a coach and a friend all in one. He’s like a know-it-all kind of guy, like you go to him for anything. I can go to him for anything. I feel like he would generally know what answer to give me, but especially on the court.”

Additionally, Devin Vassell referenced one specific game — the first one he played in after returning from a foot injury — in which CP3’s leadership was instrumental. Paul helped teach Vassell how to pick his spots on the court and decide which players to target defensively. 

“Some of the things he’s taught us, I’ll hold (on to) as long as I’m playing,” he added.

What gets lost in the significance of Paul’s influence on the Spurs is how much more necessary it was once Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke. Mitch Johnson took over as interim in Pop’s absence, making him one of the youngest coaches in the NBA. 

Paul, one year older than Johnson, helped steady the ship during the coaching transition. The abrupt coaching shift was facilitated by Johnson having one of the greatest basketball minds on his team.

“I don’t think any team in the league needed him as much as ours did,” Johnson confessed. “Especially me.”

Watching On Proudly

With his friends and former squads battling for a trip to the finals, many wonder who he may be rooting for. But Paul remained tight-lipped when asked about the matchup on Theo Pinson‘s podcast To The Baha.

“I’m enjoying this series, I’ll tell you that much,” he deflected. 

Regardless of how the series goes, Paul will be watching like a proud big brother. 

When asked if he is surprised at all by how quickly the tides have turned in San Antonio, he pushed back. 

“Nah, not at all, cause I got a chance to see it last year.”

He and Victor Wembanyama played limited games together due to Wemby suffering a blood clot last season. Still, they shared a mutual respect for each other’s competitiveness.

The 41-year-old has been most impressed by the growth in the young star’s game. Wembanyama is more than capable of shooting threes, but Paul loves seeing him utilize his size more in the post.

“Last year he shot a lot of threes, a lot of threes. But now you just get a chance to see the evolution of his game: he goes inside out,” he said on the Pat McAfee Show.

Paul attended the NBA Cup Semifinals game in December between the two teams, showing his support for both of them.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Castle have both said they still keep in touch with the Point God. Just because their time sharing the court is over doesn’t mean their relationship is.

Chris Paul may have racked up over 12,000 assists in his career, but the Thunder and Spurs know the most meaningful ones he dished out were to them.