Given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, Netflix made a year-long project worth it. The streaming monster recently dropped its ‘Starting 5’ second season. As one of the five NBA superstars cast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his historic year documented.

The Oklahoma City Thunder brought home an NBA championship. Along the way, they set several records to create an argument for one of the greatest teams ever. A historic 68-14 regular-season record had a record point differential.

One of the highlights of the eight-episode season was Gilgeous-Alexander’s relationship with Chris Paul. Both players spent one season together in OKC. When they each initially arrived for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander was part of the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to the LA Clippers. Paul was traded for Russell Westbrook.

The 2019-20 season is remembered as one of the more fun campaigns in OKC history. Paul resurrected his career. Gilgeous-Alexander was mentored by the future Hall-of-Famer. As the latter ascended into one of the NBA’s best players, he always relied on his former teammate for advice.

Despite not being teammates for five years, Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul have kept in touch. The latter showed up during the 2025 Western Conference Finals to support him. He also had conversations with him during the Thunder’s playoff run that featured plenty of roller coaster moments.

One of the lows was Aaron Gordon’s Game 1 game-winner. After the Thunder had led for most of the game, the Denver Nuggets stole a 1-0 series lead in the Round 2 matchup that went the distance. It was OKC’s first gut-check moment of the playoffs.

“Aaron Gordon, I got so much respect for him, dog,” Paul said. “Back then, you let him shoot. Dog, I got so much respect for him because he had to put time in to shoot like he do.”

Relaxing on his couch, Gilgeous-Alexander shared the same feelings every Thunder fan had at the moment. They were robbed of a 1-0 series lead. Now, instead of a presumed easy playoff series, they had to fight for and earn a playoff advancement against Nikola Jokic and company.

“We were so close to being up 1-0. Instead, it’s the complete opposite. We’re down,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And then we just lost homecourt advantage. The next game, we knew our season was on the line basically. Like you can’t lose two games at home.”

Paul also later had dinner with Gilgeous-Alexander and his family. Funny enough, the latter’s MVP trophy was in the middle of the table like a decorative piece. It’s the type of stories you’d otherwise never see unless a camera crew followed you around everywhere for nearly a year.

Unforeseen circumstances paired Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul together for a season. Despite both players being on opposite sides of their NBA careers, they made the best of their new situations. Their one year together laid down the groundwork for OKC’s first championship.

One of the funnier parts of ‘Starting 5’ was when SGA had the MVP trophy in the middle of his dinner table like a decoration piece when Chris Paul was invited over lol pic.twitter.com/rISGLcd3ia

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 20, 2025