Before becoming an MVP candidate, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just a young, up-and-coming player in the NBA. Just one year into his career, the Los Angeles Clippers traded Gilgeous-Alexander in a blockbuster deal for Paul George. At the time, the Thunder were expected to begin a rebuild, and the Canadian native was meant to be a big part of it. However, the team made the playoffs the following season. Though they ultimately lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round, it was still a shock. Much of the reason they were able to exceed expectations was because of the presence of Chris Paul, who the team also acquired in 2019. Even though he only played one season for the Thunder, he left a lasting impact on the team. Perhaps most notably, Gilgeous-Alexander has still benefitted from his season with Paul.
During his Media Day appearance earlier this week, the Thunder star spoke about being Paul’s mentee and what impact their relationship has on him today.
“Chris was the first player I was around that was very particular about the things outside of basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He was the first person I was around that ate a certain way and made sure they were lifting a certain amount of times during the week. He would watch basketball games differently… not watching as a fan. I think that kind of edge outside of the court is what makes him who he is as a player, along with his work and his skill set. That, if anything, is what I adopted from him the most.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals What He Learned From Mentor
Chris Paul Also Cherishes His Relationship With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It turns out this relationship left an impact on Paul as well. Last year, Paul made an appearance on Point Forward (YouTube link). During the interview, the then-Golden State Warriors guard spoke about his relationship with Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I try not to get emotional when I talk about Shai, man, because that was my first year living without my family, without my wife and my kids in LA,” Paul said. “And, man, Shai, he’s just a basketball head, right? You show me somebody who loves basketball and crazy about their family, then me and them gonna be tight.”
Despite only being teammates for one season, Paul and Gilgeous-Alexander remain close friends today.
The Last Word On the Oklahoma City Thunder
Heading into the 2024-25 season, there are incredibly high hopes for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. Last season, they finished with a 57-25 record and earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Furthermore, Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting. Currently, they are one of the favorites to represent the West in the NBA Finals. The Thunder have not made an NBA Finals appearance since the 2011-12 season. However, with Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, they have a legitimate chance to end the drought and make a deep playoff run.
