Chris Paul, 34, is the oldest player on the Oklahoma City Thunder, and so far he’s done well being a veteran leader.
Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo spoke to reporters about Paul’s leadership, and he said Paul gives advice to him and other players on the roster, whether it be during games or even on bus rides.
“Giving us pointers in the game, in practice, on bus rides, on planes, I mean everything,” Diallo said, per the Thunder’s Twitter account. “He’s just being a veteran guy. For him to be confident in this team and be confident in us, keep telling us to keep having that will and keep pushing, it’s great for us to have him on our side.”
Paul came to the Thunder over the summer when the team traded for him in the deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. Earlier in the month, second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spoke of how he had gotten to learn from Paul .
A nine-time All-Star, Paul is having a positive impact on the Thunder, and young players such as Gilgeous-Alexander and Diallo have played well to begin the season despite OKC being 1-3.
Gilgeous-Alexander currently ranks 15th in points per game (23.8), and Diallo is averaging 9.0 points per game on 48.4% shooting. Last season he averaged 3.7 points per game in 10.3 minutes, but this season he’s played 18.0 minutes a game.
The Thunder have six players who are 22 or younger, including Gilgeous-Alexander and Diallo, who are both 21. Paul helping the roster develop and build confidence is a positive note for a team going through a rebuild.
OKC will play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
