OKC Thunder: 3 reasons Chris Paul has won us over

1. Chris Paul is an underdog

If there’s one thing that fans enjoy, it is an overlooked or overachieving squad that come together, look like they’re having a lot of fun and make the playoffs. The Brooklyn Nets of last season headed by D’Angelo Russell a recent example. The Thunder are going to make the postseason, and in the tougher Western Conference that ranks among Paul’s greater achievements.

He hasn’t done this alone of course, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking like a future All-Star and Steven Adams a reliable big man. Throw in Dennis Schroder, who has found his role with the Thunder, and a healthy Danilo Gallinari and it is little wonder this team is in the mix. Paul is the spearhead, however, and given the miles on the clock that is no small feat.

Most imagined Paul getting to Oklahoma City and immediately trying to force his way out of there and to a situation where he had a better chance of winning a title. Even if this was always going to prove difficult because of his huge contract. Instead, he has looked like a real leader for the group since day one, getting on with the task at hand.

This has the Thunder sitting fifth in the West at 42-25, a single game behind a Rockets organization that felt the need to swap him for Westbrook. This despite the Rockets having much grander designs on winning a championship than the Thunder ever did before the season started. No matter what happens from here on out, this has been a year of overachievement for the Thunder.

Joining an organization like the Thunder, with their passionate fans, and having no real chance of winning a title only to then knuckle down and get the group to play better than anybody ever could have imagined. It is no wonder people are looking at Paul differently now. No matter what happens from here on out, whether it is a first-round exit or a Cinderella run, Paul’s time with the Thunder has done wonders for his image.