The Oklahoma City Thunder came away with a huge Game 6 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night to even the series and force a do-or-die Game 7. Chris Paul led his team with 28 points to spearhead the 104-100 Thunder win. The 35-year old took the opportunity postgame to pay tribute to legendary coach John Thompson, Jr.
“First I want to give my condolences to John Thomson and that family. He was special.” Paul said (per ESPN). “My boy coach Mike Russell coaches one of my AAU teams, he always coach our team with a towel on his shoulder just 'cause of coach Thompson.”
The legendary Georgetown coach passed away Monday at the age of 78.
Amid everything going on in the world right now, players continue to battle it out inside the Orlando bubble. Paul as well as the entire Thunder squad have found ways to thrive under all the pressure. There have been a ton of tragic events while the bubble games have progressed. But as Paul mentioned, his team has done a tremendous job so far in making sure they get the job done.
“Another big shout out to our players for how they're handling everything down here as men, with everything going on.” he adds.
Chris Paul is also the current president of the NBPA and has been in the forefront of all the controversies in and around the bubble with regards to the NBA and its players. At 35, with a team that's been counted out numerous times all throughout the season, it seems that Paul is a man on a mission. The young Thunder with their veteran leader are out to prove their doubters wrong as they try to edge out the Rockets in a must-win Game 7 on Wednesday.