Chris Paul's mentorship continues to shape 2026 NBA playoffs

Even after retiring in 2026, Chris Paul's influence remains visible across multiple playoff teams.

Paul reflects on lifelong mentorship Chris Paul sat in his home in December, scrolling through decades of photos on his phone, pausing only to greet neighbor Mookie Betts as the Dodgers star practiced shots on Paul’s indoor court. Among the images were faces of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, De’Aaron Fox, Jamal Murray, Trae Young, DeMar DeRozan, Fred VanVleet, CJ McCollum, Malik Monk, Jordan Poole, Coby White, and Jared McCain—100 NBA players who attended Paul’s camps as campers, counselors, or workout participants. Paul told reporters that photos are the only way he remembers his many activities. 'Man, I always say the only way that I can remember anything is my photos,' he explained. 'Because I feel like I do so much stuff that the only way I'll ever remember any of this stuff is [looking through my photo albums].' ## Decades of guidance through camps and programs As the NBA’s second all-time assists leader, Paul’s mentorship relied on technology to reach nearly 2,000 players since 2008 through elite basketball camps, his AAU team Team CP3, and a leadership program. His camps helped scouts identify point guards like Ja Morant, whose viral dunk in 2018 put him on the map before his breakout sophomore season at Murray State. Paul also settled debates, such as the 2016 summer race between future lottery picks De’Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. as freshmen at Kentucky and NC State. After retiring in February following 21 seasons, Paul’s impact remains evident in the 2026 postseason, with 31 players connected to him through camps or AAU teams across 13 playoff teams. ## Legacy spans generations of point guards Paul’s influence extends from Stephen Curry—who attended his 2008 camp—to Donovan Mitchell, rookie Jase Richardson, and many others still in touch with him. 'That'll be a thing that people remember forever,' CJ Paul, Chris’s brother and business partner, said of his legacy. 'Chris is going to stop playing in the NBA after this year, but he'll continue to have an AAU program and do these camps. He'll continue to have his input and imprint on the next generation.' Warriors star Curry, who met Paul as a camper in 2008, later became his teammate in Golden State during the 2023-24 season. 'That was the start of the relationship that extended into my rookie year and ever since in terms of the friendship,' Curry said. 'He's just a dude that loves the game, loves to give back to it, is always going out his way to give advice or be available.' ## Gilgeous-Alexander credits Paul as mentor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning Finals MVP and 2026 playoff participant, reflected on Paul’s lasting impact. Though he never attended Paul’s elite camp as a camper, he once visited to watch Paul work with young guards. 'It's really cool to just see how much he can influence a generation,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'I know for myself, growing up, he was the best point guard in the league.. We called him 'Point God' growing up.' The two were teammates for a season in Oklahoma City after joining via separate trades in 2019. Paul became Gilgeous-Alexander’s mentor, teaching him professional habits like nutrition, treatment, and court awareness. 'He really showed me how to be a pro,' Gilgeous-Alexander explained. 'When he plays, he does a really good job of doing every little thing that you can to try to get an edge out there, get a win or get the better of your opponent.' ## Brunson adopts Paul’s competitive mindset Jalen Brunson, another product of Paul’s camps, attended three times—twice as a high school camper and once while at Villanova. Paul knew Brunson through his father, Rick, whose final NBA season coincided with Paul’s first. 'The dog in them,' CJ Paul said of their shared traits. 'I just think Jalen is a smaller guard and they got to be a little dirty and nasty.' Brunson, now with the Knicks, picked up Paul’s emphasis on consistency and mental resilience. 'Knowing who you are as a player and not letting anything rattle you,' Brunson said. 'He was always consistent in the way he played and the way he competed, in the way he controlled the game. And I think that was very key for me and my growth as a player.' ## Mitchell credits Paul with NBA career launch Donovan Mitchell never received an invitation to Paul’s elite camp in high school, joking that he 'wasn’t good enough.' But Mitchell insists he might not be in the NBA without Paul, Paul George, and CJ Paul. During a 2017 CAA workout, Mitchell was considering returning to Louisville before their advice convinced him to declare for the draft. 'I firmly tell everybody that I was going back to school and those two guys had nothing to gain from telling me to go to the NBA,' Mitchell said. 'I'm forever grateful for that conversation.' After being drafted by Denver and traded to Utah, Mitchell attended Paul’s camp and absorbed lessons on physical and mental preparation. He adopted Paul’s pick-and-roll tactics, particularly using the left-to-right sweep to exploit mismatches. 'CP killed us with that in the playoffs [two years in a row],' Mitchell said. 'That’s one thing I noticed, just being able to get to that little elbow spot where they switch or it’s a miscommunication.' ## Rookie Jase Richardson follows family ties to Paul Jase Richardson, Orlando’s 2023 first-round pick, faced Paul in a November game just months after attending his 2023 elite guard camp. At 20 years old, Richardson had known Paul since age 5, with his father, Jason Richardson, having played against Paul 13 times. 'That's really like an OG to me, like an uncle,' Jase Richardson said. 'Learning from him, playing against him is really special. The biggest thing he taught me is to always think a step ahead as a smaller guard.' Paul scored a layup using a screen late in the game, while Richardson hit a 3-pointer, marking his first playoff experience as Orlando led a series against Detroit. 'Being a fan of him, and then finally sharing the court with somebody like that who's done it for so long,' Richardson said. 'It’s really special.' ## Paul’s final season ends amid Clippers turmoil Paul’s farewell season with the Clippers concluded abruptly in December after the team cut ties with him when they stood at 5-16. The club fell as low as 6-21 before rallying and trading Paul to Toronto at the deadline. The Raptors later waived him, and he announced retirement in February. Now with free time for the first time since 2005, Paul plans to focus on mentoring current and future point guards. 'I'm not a hoarder of information,' Paul said. 'I'm so grateful to be able to enjoy the things that I have in my career. Any guy, any kid who wants to ask questions, that got aspirations, if I got anything that can help them, I'm going to let them know.' ## Paul’s camp curriculum and coaching network Paul’s camps consistently featured film sessions, raw Q&A with pros, and hands-on coaching from specialists like John Beckett and Natalie Nakase. These elements shaped generations of guards, including Curry, who modeled his own SC30 Select camp after Paul’s approach. 'Understanding how he approached [his camp], it's informed a lot of how I run my own camp,' Curry said. 'How engaged he was. I've seen it a lot with different athletes, but there's a level of engagement and energy that the NBA player can bring to that environment that can change the course of somebody's path.' ## Paul’s competitive edge and influence on rivals Paul’s rivalry with Stephen Curry included three postseason meetings, with Paul’s Clippers defeating Curry’s Warriors in 2014 but losing in 2018 and 2019. Paul called the 2018 loss—where Golden State overcame a 3-2 deficit while he missed Games 6 and 7 with a hamstring injury—one of his most devastating defeats. Despite the losses, Paul never hesitated to share his secrets with young players. 'I'm telling them all the little nuances of how I steal the ball,' Paul said. 'How I read the pick-and-roll, how I do this, how I do that. I would show them ways that I steal the ball. And then a lot of them make it to the NBA and I try to do it to them. And they'd be like, 'Oh no! No, you told us this at camp.' ## Paul’s ongoing connection with family and former teammates Paul’s bond with Gilgeous-Alexander extends beyond basketball, with Paul attending Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals when Gilgeous-Alexander received his MVP trophy. Paul’s son, Chris Paul II, wears No. 2 like Gilgeous-Alexander, and his grandmother stays up to watch the Thunder star play. 'Shai is a huge part of my legacy,' Paul said. 'But a huge part of my life at this point for how he is with my family.' ## 2026 playoff teams tied to Paul’s programs The 2026 NBA playoffs feature 31 players from 13 teams connected to Paul through camps or AAU teams. They include Gilgeous-Alexander, Brunson, Mitchell, Richardson, Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Jordan Poole, among others. This network spans multiple generations, from Paul’s early mentees to current stars and rookies, all carrying lessons from his teachings into postseason competition.