CHRIS PAUL entered the season having been completely written off by fans and the basketball media.
Last season the iconic point guard, nicknamed CP3, endured an injury-hit, troubled season alongside James Harden with the Houston Rockets
His production on the court declined sharply and his famous and unwavering quest for perfection and perceived prickly personality was proving to be a hindrance rather than a help.
Paul, already 34, was aging and had what was considered one of the 'worst' contracts in the NBA which will pay him nearly £100million over the next three years – an albatross that could sink a franchise.
The Rockets decided to trade him.
Enter the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Rocked by one of their own superstars, Paul George, demanding to be traded so he could link up with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, the Thunder decided to pull the emergency cord.
They traded George for young players and assests and then hit the reset button by trading the club's greatest player, Russell Westbrook, to the Rockets for Paul – and yet more picks.
No one gave the new look Thunder a chance, with most pre-season predictions having them sitting near the bottom of the standings as a franchise in need of a complete reboot.
They had some good young players but not enough talent to really compete, while Paul – a nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection and two-time Olympic champion – was deemed to be finished.
There was plenty of buzz that even he would be traded away before the end of the season as the Thunder attempted to rebuild.
But those who doubted CP3, who played in Oklahoma City for the Hornerts, and the young Thunder are certainly looking foolish now.
In fact this OKC is defying all predictions, charging towards the post-season and sitting sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 31 wins and 20 losses.
Well, they've defied all expectations except from one man… Paul himself.
The legendary point guard said: "I expected the record to be better. I expect to win every night.
"Yeah, so I'm not as surprised as you all were, I guess.
"I'm just not. I'm just being honest.
"I didn't expect anything else. So like I say, I'm not surprised.”
Paul is enjoying a resurgent season.
As the team's clear No1 option, he is back playing close to his best and last week was named an All-Star for the tenth time – and for the first time since 2016.
In less than 32 minutes per game, he is averaging 17 points and just shy of two steals and seven assists.
They're not quite the gaudy numbers CP3 was putting up in his athletic prime but Paul is saving his very best for very late on.
In fact, the 6ft star is the best player in the entire NBA when it really matters, leading the league in clutch scoring.
On his late-game heroics, he added: "I think I might have said it earlier in the season, that's probably one of the biggest things I missed is being depended on in those situations.
"I've been in those situations my entire career.
"So that's why you play these games is for that adrenaline."
Paul is not doing it all alone, obviously.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was traded in the deal for George, is showing all the potential to become an All-Star and was close to making it this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schroeder are all averaging more than 19 points, while Steven Adams continues to provide be a brick wall defensively.
Those players are feating off of easy looks generated by Paul, a legendary playmaker who pulls strings like few others have been able to in basketball history.
The aging superstar is having a lot of fun playing with his new team.
"[We're having fun] partly because everything is probably by committee," he said.
"I think our coaches do a great job of engaging us and we just got a really great group of guys, you know?
"And obviously, winning games helps that."
Finally, after a rough two years in Houston, Paul is just delighted to be back playing with the NBA's best players at the All-Star game.
On being named he said: "Man, definitely an honour and a privilege going from the past two years and dealing with different injuries, this and that, all that, meant a lot.
"But I think it was great for our team, for the organisation, and a big thank you to my family, especially my wife and my kids…
"I spent an unbelievable amount of time training and doing all this stuff, but the organisation has been unbelievable from day one.
"I think it's not just good for me, it's great for the team.
- NBA Sundays presented by NBA2K20 on Sky Sports – part of a record 48 Primetime games live on Sky Sports starting from 7pm every weekend. This week on February 9, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports Arena from 8.30pm
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