Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shuffled into position for a picture, one new teammate on each side of the trainer they had worked out with that mid-August day.
Paul clasped his hands at his waist, a slight smile tugging at the left corner of his mouth. Gilgeous-Alexander leaned on his longtime trainer Olin Simplis, his gaze trained coolly into the lens. The picture outlined their physical differences — Gilgeous-Alexander was as long and lean as Paul was compact. But beyond that, their careers and styles set them apart.
Paul and Gilgeous-Alexander are the newest additions to Thunder’s backcourt, and they’ll have a chance to shape it heading into the 2019-20 season.