Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) in the second half at Frost Bank Center.
Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took shots at his former star teammate Chris Paul, but not for basketball reasons this time.
Paul played 21 seasons in the NBA from 2005 to 2026, playing with the Thunder for one year during the 2019-20 campaign. He and Gilgeous-Alexander excelled as teammates, making the playoffs that year as the team overachieved.
Paul ultimately retired during the 2025-26 season, on pace to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It was the same for Russell Westbrook, who chose to retire after spending one season with the Sacramento Kings, concluding an 18-year career.
Paul and Westbrook are enjoying the early months of retirement, even putting their tennis skills to the test. Gilgeous-Alexander caught wind of the video, not hesitating to make fun of Paul's abilities in the sport.
“I'll fry you in tennis,” Gilgeous-Alexander commented on the Instagram post.
Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are working on their tennis swings in retirement… and Shai had thoughts 😅
(Via: cp3/IG) pic.twitter.com/7DGq7c3Ig5
— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2026
What's next for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder next season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss seeing his former star teammate in action, knowing that Chris Paul will garner immense respect as one of the best guards to ever play in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander got the job done following Paul's departure in 2020, winning the Thunder their first championship in 2025. He shines as one of the best players in the league, winning MVP in back-to-back seasons throughout 2025 and 2026. Last season saw him average 31.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game throughout 68 appearances.
Oklahoma City finished with a 64-18 record last season, securing the top seed in the Western Conference standings. They swept the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds. However, they lost in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs in the West Finals.
The Thunder have now acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron. They even shed $200 million this offseason after trading away Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. The team will have a unique look going into the 2026-27 season.