With the Phoenix Suns in town on Sunday, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reminisced a bit about Chris Paul’s one-year tenure with the team during the 2019-20 season after Thursday’s practice. Daigneault was an assistant on head coach Billy Donovan’s staff that season.
Daigneault was promoted to head coach and Paul was traded to the Suns during the following offseason.
“The level of self-driven professionalism,” said Daigneault. “He is the CEO of his career.”
Daigneault said one of the earliest impressions Paul made on him was his ability to be an all-time great player despite his short stature. Daigneault said that players as great as Paul usually are a lot bigger in size.
The only players that remain from that 2020 bubble squad are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Mike Muscala and Isaiah Roby. Daigneault said Gilgeous-Alexander and Bazley benefited massively due to Paul’s leadership and influence.
“Anytime you’re around people that raise the bar,” said Daigneault. “I think that’s a good thing.”