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Chris Paul’s Oklahoma City Blueprint Comes Into Focus After Clippers Part Ways

The 2019–20 Thunder stint is cited for deliberate mentoring that young teammates say accelerated their development.

Overview

  • During that season, Paul hosted regular dinners and film nights at his home, turning every viewing into lessons on tendencies, game plans and professionalism.
  • He bought Luguentz Dort an iPad, secured access to Second Spectrum and taught him to create targeted film playlists to study opponents and his own habits.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says Paul enforced in-season lifting, nutrition and recovery routines that he still follows after ascending to MVP status.
  • Oklahoma City finished 44-28 before a seven-game first-round exit, Paul made All-NBA Second Team, and he later helped Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals.
  • The look back arrives as the Clippers send Paul home during a 6-18 start, with the 40-year-old averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes on the league’s oldest roster.