At 39, Chris Paul signing a one-year, $11 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs raised a few eyebrows. A veteran guard joining a rebuilding team? It seemed like an odd fit. But CP3 has done what he always does—make an impact.
Not only has he taken on a leadership role with the Spurs, but he’s also racking up milestones like it’s just another day on the court.
Chris Paul Passes Hall of Famer
On March 12, Paul added another achievement to his legendary résumé. When he took the floor against the Dallas Mavericks, he officially moved into 17th place on the NBA’s all-time games played list, passing Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton with his 1,335th game.
His numbers this season—8.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game—are the lowest of his career. However, the stats don’t tell the whole story. His leadership and experience have been invaluable for a young Spurs squad, especially rising star Victor Wembanyama.
Paul has been a walking record book for years, and he’s still adding to it. This season alone, he has checked off some major milestones. On Nov. 15, he reached 12,000 career assists, joining only John Stockton and Jason Kidd in that exclusive club.
Less than a month later, on Dec. 8, he passed Kidd to move into second place on the all-time assists list. Then, on Feb. 20, he climbed to second all-time in steals, trailing only Stockton. While Stockton’s record will be tough to surpass for Paul (or anyone), the move into second is another illustrious milestone in a Hall of Fame career.
Paul’s Legendary Career Spans Seven Teams
Paul’s journey through the NBA has been remarkable. Drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, Paul won Rookie of the Year, and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best young point guards. Then came the “Lob City” era with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he turned an otherwise failing franchise into a legitimate playoff contender. Paul had a legitimate title shot alongside James Harden following his move to the Houston Rockets, but fell just short in a 2018 Western Conference Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The 2019 season saw Paul lead a young Oklahoma City Thunder team to the playoffs when nobody expected it, and his biggest impact came the following year in Phoenix, where he helped take the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, their first in 28 years, and Paul’s lone Finals appearance. After a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors, he’s now in San Antonio.
Records Still in Reach for CP3
Paul isn’t done climbing the all-time leaderboard. With 18 games left in the season, he has a chance to pass Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant for 15th place in games played. The championship window may have closed for him, but his legacy has already been cemented.
The Spurs didn’t just get a point guard when they signed Paul. They got a mentor and one of the greatest basketball minds ever. Whether he plays another season or not, his impact on San Antonio’s young core will last far beyond this year.