Beyond his iconic NBA career, Chris Paul's Oklahoma impact transcended the court, shaping a city's sporting identity and mentoring a future star.
Despite playing only one season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Paul should be remembered as one of the most important athletes in state history.
The 40 year old point guard announced his retirement from the NBA on Friday afternoon, sending legions of fans, reporters, players and teams all over the globe to social media to express their admiration. Including most Oklahoma hoops enthusiasts.
NBA basketball in The Sooner State may not exist if not for Paul. Back when Hurricane Katrina tragically devastated the Gulf Coast, the New Orleans Hornets needed an interim arena. The Ford Center in Oklahoma was available and happy to help provide the Hornets a temporary home. That included rookie #4 overall pick Chris Paul.
Paul dazzled Oklahoma City basketball fans on the court with his otherworldly playmaking talent and off the court with his likable nature, intelligence and charm. The flyover state mostly known for college football proved that OKC could be a major league city as crowds filled an arena originally intended for professional hockey to watch Paul play. That 2005-2006 season put both Paul and Oklahoma City on the NBA map.
Fast forward 14 years. The Thunder trade away Paul George. Then they trade franchise living legend and folk hero Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul. Most observers thought a 34 year old Paul was washed. Wrong. Most observers thought OKC would tank that season. Wrong. ESPN famously gave the Thunder a .2% chance to make the playoffs. Wrong.
Chris Paul revitalized his career in his one season stint in OKC. He also led the Thunder to the playoffs, gifting fans a magical season that restored hope that not all was lost after losing Westbrook. And he mentored a budding young star named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Chris was special for my career," Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said at All-Star Weekend when asked about Paul's retirement. "I've said it in a couple interviews, off the court, he was the first person that I was around to really take care of their body, show me the importance of the weight room. His life was really like a regimen and it allowed him to be successful on the court. Chris was the first point guard for me. He was the first point guard that I studied. I was in high school, I watched how he read the pick and roll. I watched how he controlled the game.
He was the standard for a point guard when I was growing up. Fast forward a couple years, he’s one of my closest friends. Super tight. It's hard to differentiate the two. He’s been special to me. And I know it's not only me. It's guys that have picked up the ball all over the world. Many of the point guards in the NBA today.
Honestly, it’s sad the way it’s happened. I thought he’d get his flowers a little differently. But that’ll never change what he’s done for this game. I’m proud of him. He's been special. Hopefully I can get to that level of mastering the game of basketball."
Chris Paul played two seasons of pro basketball in Oklahoma City. His first season, he helped show the NBA that Oklahoma was big league ready. His second season, he helped lay the foundation of success for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the new era of Thunder basketball.
Paul's importance to Oklahoma sports is evidenced by his fingerprints being all over Oklahoma City both getting an NBA team and winning an NBA championship.