OKC Thunder guard Chris Paul selected as 2020 NBA All-Star reserve

TNT Game Time announced the 2020 NBA All-Star reserves with OKC Thunder point guard  Chris Paul making the cut in the West.

It wasn’t a foregone conclusion Chris Paul would be among the seven reserves added to the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. However, the fact the OKC Thunder is sitting in the seventh seed in the Western Conference had something to do with it.

Fans saw in the loss to the Mavericks this week just how vital CP3 is to the club. His presence adds elements to the team which doesn’t show up on the box score. Most importantly, it’s the calm he delivers and that is clearly evident in how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder play with him versus without him on the court.

It’s the intangibles of a leader who is rewriting his narrative in OKC. For fans who feel someone like Devin Booker should’ve been selected over Paul here’s is the key difference —- Booker puts up amazing stat lines BUT— how many extra wins does he influence? Arguably, Paul can point to 10 plus games where his presence was the difference and that, in this scribes opinion warrants the nod.

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Also, when players retire one of the things the voters point to is how many times the player was selected for the All-Star Game. Sure, the starters are there based on their talent and popularity but the reserves are there because the coaches know how vital they are when game planning for opponents.

The coaches selected two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild card players (any positions). Those seven players from each Conference will join the five starters announced last week.

Tomorrow the Rising Stars will be announced with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pretty much a shoo-in to play on the World Team.

Depending on when those votes were submitted the breakthrough performance by Luguentz Dort might’ve given selectees enough of a reason to consider his inclusion particularly since he would also be on the World Team given his Canadian heritage.

Stay connected with Thunderous Intentions as we’ll update on who makes the Rising Stars team along with any OKC Thunder players who make All-Star Saturday night events.