San Antonio Spurs veteran level guard Chris Paul achieved a brand new profession milestone on Thursday night time.
Paul, 39, surpassed Paul Pierce to maneuver into 16th place in all-time games played in NBA historical past (1,344). The long run Corridor of Fame guard is now solely three video games away from passing Kobe Bryant to maneuver into fifteenth place.
The 2005 first-round choose is within the midst of his twentieth season and continues to be a stable sufficient participant to be efficient at his age. Paul is averaging 8.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds and seven.7 assists this season. Actually, Paul’s help common ranks seventh within the league.
All through his illustrious profession, Paul has earned 12 All-Star nods, 11 All-NBA alternatives, 9 All-Defensive groups and was named on 2021’s NBA High 75 checklist. Nevertheless, regardless of Paul’s accomplishments, an NBA title has eluded him all through his two-decade profession.
The six-time steals chief could not recover from the hump throughout his tenures with James Harden and the Rockets (2017-19) or with the “Lob Metropolis” Los Angeles Clippers (2011-17). Nevertheless, Paul was two wins away from a championship within the 2021 NBA Finals as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Paul joined the Suns within the 2020-21 season and aided the franchise to its first Finals look since 1993. Within the following marketing campaign, Paul helped lead the Suns to a franchise-best 64-18 file.
After his Phoenix tenure, Paul spent a season with the Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and is in his first season as a Spur. Paul got here to San Antonio in hopes to supply a veteran presence to a younger Spurs staff that options Devin Vassell, Stephon Citadel and 2023 No. 1 total choose Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama’s season was lower brief as a consequence of a blood clot in his proper shoulder. The 2023 Rookie of the 12 months was having a dominate season and was on tempo to win the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. It stays to be seen if San Antonio will deliver again Paul to garner a full season with the Spurs younger core.
Paul has performed in all 72 of San Antonio’s video games this season. If Paul decides to return for one more marketing campaign and may keep wholesome, he may maybe make it into the highest 10. Paul is simply 66 video games away from surpassing Jason Terry (1,410) for the tenth spot in all-time video games performed.
