Chris Paul may not suit up for either Oklahoma City or San Antonio anymore, but his influence is still being felt throughout the Western Conference finals, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
The veteran guard played an important role in shaping players on both rosters during different stages of their development.
Paul spent the 2019/20 season with the Thunder, where he served as a mentor to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the early stages of SGA’s rise into stardom.
More recently, he brought leadership and experience to a young Spurs roster last season, helping guide several of San Antonio’s developing players both on and off the court.
“He helped the young guys, including myself, really understand the game at a different level,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said.
“He’s a winning basketball player, and I can see how he contributed to winning here as well.”
Paul played 21 seasons for 7 teams, including the Clippers and Hornets. He averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 1,370 regular-season games.
He was selected to play in 12 All-Star games, and won the Rookie of the Year award.
Northwest Notes: Paul, Dundon, Ainge, Nuggets Draft https://t.co/vAYlNOIuaY
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 25, 2026
