In an appearance on the “Pivot Podcast,” Chris Paul detailed his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and how his trade there went down.
Paul enjoyed a career resurgence with the Thunder in his sole season there (2019-20). He led them to a playoff appearance and was named an All-NBA member.
The veteran point guard was dealt to the Phoenix Suns the following offseason, which is where he has spent the last three seasons.
While he looks back at his time in OKC fondly, Paul initially didn’t want to be traded from the Houston Rockets. He told general manager Daryl Morey he didn’t want to go to OKC before being traded.
“(Morey) was like, ‘Cool, I won’t do that since you chose to come to us,” Paul said. “Fast forward a week later, I was on the phone with my wife, and it said Daryl was calling and then it popped up (I’ve been traded to OKC) and talked to Daryl for literally two seconds and hung up.”
Paul also later revealed the Thunder rejuvenated him and credits them for extending his career.
“OKC was unbelievable,” Paul said. “I might not still be playing if not for that year I had there because I found that joy back.”
Paul also revealed that after he was traded to the Thunder, nobody from the Thunder reached out to welcome him, likely because they were actively trying to trade him. He reached out to Thunder general manager Sam Presti and asked for the contact information of his new teammates and reached out to them.
“Our very first team meeting. … I stood up in front of my whole team and said, ‘If you all want to know something about me, ask me,” Paul said. “I’m not asking to be traded (from OKC). I’m here.”
The full podcast interview can be watched here.
