One short year ago Chris Paul led the OKC Thunder into an improbable run as the squad overachieved finishing in a tie for fourth in the West. As they fought the Rockets in Round 1 they played to their identity pushing Houston to Game 7 and came one shot from moving onto the semi-finals.
Although the 2019-20 team didn’t rival the powerhouse years featuring future MVPs Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, it was even more fulfilling for some. Every game Thunder Nation knew that team would be in it until the final buzzer. They became so savvy at closing out games TI titled them ‘The Clutch Time Killers’.
At the heart of that clutch time lineup was captain Chris Paul. The Point God is well known for his leadership skills and competitive nature he was the calming force of the Thunder storm.
His presence offered numerous intangibles to the development of the youngsters on OKC with particular emphasis on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Darius Bazley who were often with him off the court as well.
With the Thunder invested in rebuilding it was a forgone conclusion, Paul would be traded. Typical to how Sam Presti operates the goal was to find a trade partner that would benefit OKC but also reward CP3 for his efforts by sending him to a team that could contend for a title. Phoenix became the destination and as the 2021 playoffs have progressed many Thunder fans have found themselves pulling for the Suns.
Much of that inspiration comes from the wish for Chris Paul to win a title. Despite being considered the best leader in sports, playing for numerous title contenders, and his palpable effect at clutch time Paul has never played in an NBA Finals.
Former OKC Thunder captain Paul’s 16-year journey to reach the NBA Finals
That 16-year drought came to an end on Wednesday as the Suns won the Western Conference Finals to cement their Finals berth. Just as the Point God has done on copious occasions for the OKC Thunder, Rockets, Clippers, and this season with the Suns he was the player who brought the win home.
LA had shaved a 17 point lead down to seven points late in the third quarter when Paul subbed in for Phoenix. In a little over a minute, CP3 delivered a personal 8-0 run to push the lead back to 15. His fourth-quarter effort was more of the same as Paul kept the pressure on LA registering 19 points (the Clippers scored 20), two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 9:39 of the final frame.
Typically Paul rests at the end of the third and to start the fourth quarter but clearly, Monty Williams wasn’t taking any chances and that decision proved astute. By the time Paul hit a 3-pointer to put the Suns up 26, Patrick Beverley became so incensed he responded like the child he is pushing CP3 in the back and got ejected for his actions.
Throughout the postseason, without the OKC Thunder (or Raptors) to cheer for, I’ve been committed to pulling for individuals with Chris Paul at the top of that list. For someone of his ilk to never have reached an NBA Finals in his 16-year tenure just felt wrong.
Full disclosure, I wasn’t always the biggest Chris Paul fan. While I recognized his skills, the ‘Lob City’ Clippers were one of those teams that I rooted against like many. It wasn’t until his time with Houston and more so with the Thunder that I grew to appreciate just how impressive his effect was as a leader and in closing games.
Like many Thunder fans that I’ve talked to, he became a fan favorite in one short season in OKC. As the NBPA president, he worked tirelessly to bring back games last season in the Disney bubble. His efforts to promote HBCU’s are unrivaled and his countless philanthropic efforts showcase how he uses his platform to reach so many in a positive way.
While his on-court demeanor is akin to a bulldog, off-court he is much closer to the best friend or big brother who cares about everyone. To wit, following the win in LA, in his postgame media session, Paul took time to single out Sam Presti thanking him for being the catalyst to make this run possible.
At a moment when his emotions were running high over finally reaching the goal, he’d played over a decade and a half to reach that he would take the time to thank the OKC Thunder VP (11:48 of video) speaks to his character. He brought up OKC during the trophy celebration too.
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Now the Suns will sit and wait for the Eastern Conference winner as that series is all tied at two games apiece. With both team’s superstars (Trae Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo) dealing with injuries it’s anyone’s guess if the Hawks or Bucks will prevail in what is now the best of three series.
To that end, in retrospect, the impact of injuries to superstars on top teams will undoubtedly be a talking point of the 2021 postseason.
Paul has dealt with his own extensive list of injuries suffering a shoulder stinger in Round 1, testing positive for COVID which caused him to miss the first two games of the WCF, and underwent an MRI this week to determine if he had suffered ligament damage in his wrist.
Despite that wrist ailment, that he matched his playoff career-best scoring effort (41 points) to clinch the win doesn’t surprise the fans in OKC. That’s who Chris Paul is — a scrappy competitor. Now, the man we call the Point God will get some well-needed rest before lacing up his kicks to play in his first NBA Finals.
Intentions send our congratulations on the Western Conference title and tip our hat to Chris Paul wishing him all the best in his journey to hoist Larry O’B.