The Point God: A Legendary Career

Over two decades ago, on June 28th, 2005, the New Orleans Hornets called in their selection with the fourth overall pick. Chris Paul, the six foot point guard out of Wake Forest. Nobody could have expected that Paul would become one of the greatest point guards of all time, playing a shockingly long career and cementing himself in the all time ranks before announcing his retirement in 2025. From New Orleans, to Los Angeles, to Houston and beyond, Chris Paul has lived up the nickname of “Point God”, being one of the most impactful guards in NBA history. Unfortunately, ring culture has cast a shadow on the career of one of the best floor generals ever. It’s time to dispel the doubts about CP3’s career and give him his flowers.

The Beginning

Paul immediately showed off his talent upon arriving on the scene in New Orleans. One of the most intelligent passers the game of basketball has ever seen, he averaged 7.8 assists per game in his rookie year, a mark he didn’t fall below until he was 34 years old. He also showed off solid scoring capabilities, averaging 16, and the uncanny knack for forcing turnovers, averaging 2.2 steals per game. On top of this, he led New Orleans in win shares, already the most impactful player on the team. All of this terrific production won CP3 the rookie of the year award, giving the Hornets hope.

It wouldn’t take long for the CP3 winning effect to take place, as the Hornets would be in the playoffs by 2008, and it was largely due to the impact of Chris Paul. The Point God led the league in assists per game and steals per game, plus leading the team in scoring, making All NBA first and All Defensive second, and ending second in MVP voting. Together with All Star David West, Paul led the Hornets to the second seed in the Western Conference, although they would run into Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, losing in seven.

Paul would keep doing his thing, leading the league in assists and steals per game once more in 2009, once again making the All NBA first team. He missed about half the 2010 season, but would be right back in 2011, leading the league in steals per game for the third time, cementing himself as one of, if not the best, two-way point guards in the league and in history.

Unfortunately, there was uncertainty in New Orleans. Rumors of relocation (which would come to fruition, as the team is now the New Orleans Pelicans), poor management, and a lack of winning would drive Paul out, and he indicated he would not sign an extension following the 2011 season. Rather than lose him for nothing, the Hornets would shop him, looking to gain some assets in return for their star guard. There was originally an offer from the Los Angeles Lakers that would have teamed CP3 up with Kobe Bryant, but that was vetoed by the league in one of the more controversial moves in recent memory. Paul would, however, be moved to Los Angeles eventually, but not the Lakers. Instead, he would be heading to the Clippers, where he would lead one of the most exciting teams of all time.

Lob City

In joining the Los Angeles Clippers, CP3 teamed up with two of the more exciting young players in the NBA. Blake Griffin had been the first overall pick two seasons ago, and after missing the 2010 season due to injury, he had exploded onto the scene in 2011, averaging 22 and 12 in his first season of NBA action. DeAndre Jordan, on the other hand, had a very different path to success. He was drafted 35th overall in 2008, but stuck around, not getting tons of opportunity but doing enough to keep a roster spot.

Enter Chris Paul. The moment he touched down in Los Angeles, things changed. The team won eight more games than the season before and made the playoffs as the fifth seed. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies in round one, but once again Paul ran into the Spurs, and they lost in the second round. The next year, they improved in the regular season again, but once more fell short in the playoffs, this time at the hands of the Grizzlies. Paul and Griffin had both been doing their thing, both making All NBA, but now it was time for DJ to step it up and become the third star for the franchise.

And step it up he would. In 2014, DJ would lead the league in rebounding and finish third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The year after, in 2015, DJ made an All NBA team and the All Defensive first team. With his defensive and rebounding capabilities and CP3’s playmaking, Jordan had gone from a second round pick to an All NBA player. With Griffin and Paul still hooping, and Jordan improving, the Clippers had finally achieved the true form of the Lob City Clippers. A dynamic offense centered around the ingenuity of Chris Paul’s playmaking, there were high hopes in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, the ceiling of this team could never be fully achieved. A combination of injuries and tough matchups would lead to Los Angeles being consistently bounced in the first two rounds, never reaching the Western Conference Finals. And for the 2018 season, with relations between CP3 and the front office deteriorating, the Clippers would ship Paul elsewhere.

Houston

Paul was 32 years old by the time the 2018 season rolled around, but his level of play was still elite. The veteran point guard had made an All NBA team every season he was in Los Angeles except for 2017, made All Defensive every year, and led the league in both assists and steals twice.

So when he decided to leave Los Angeles in the 2017 offseason, it made waves. Especially since he journeyed to the Houston Rockets, teaming up with offensive maestro James Harden. Paul had played with a number of elite big men, from David West in New Orleans to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles. But now in Harden he had his first real star backcourt partner. With one of the best scorers the league had ever seen in Harden and one of the best passers in Paul, the Rockets promised offensive results.

And the pairing wouldn’t disappoint. The Rockets won 65 games in 2018, 10 more than the season before, finishing first in the West. Harden led the league in scoring, bringing home the MVP award, and although CP3 missed some games, he averaged a solid 18 and 8 on the season. The pairing led the best offense in the NBA, and when playoff time rolled around they appeared a force to be reckoned with. They dismantled the Timberwolves and Jazz in the first two rounds before facing the toughest challenge of the 2010s: the Golden State Warriors.

Fresh off a championship, the Warriors possessed one of the deadliest rosters ever assembled. Led by Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were a well oiled machine, one that had attended each of the past three Finals series, winning two. But the Rockets wouldn’t go down without a fight, going up 3-2 before disaster struck. Late in game 5, Chris Paul suffered a hamstring injury, one that kept him out the next two games. As a result, the Rockets dropped both games, and the Warriors went on to win the championship.

The next season would go similarly. The Rockets fell off a bit in the regular season, although they still boasted the second best offense in the league, and finished fourth in the West. They won their first round series before meeting the Warriors again and falling short. With this second failure, the relationship between Paul and Harden deteriorated, and the Rockets chose Harden, shipping Paul off to Oklahoma City.

Winning Impact

With him now being 34, it appeared to many that Chris Paul was in his twilight years. His numbers had taken a dip in Houston, and he hadn’t been an All Star for three years at this point. Sent to a young and inexperienced OKC Thunder team that had just lost Paul George and had traded away Russell Westbrook in exchange for Paul, it was expected to be a poor season for Chris Paul and the team.

Luckily for the Thunder, the Point God’s impact is significant. Along with a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, CP3 would lead a surprising OKC team to the playoffs. Throughout the season, he averaged 17, 5, and 7 along with a steal and a half, finding himself back in the All Star game. Paul also made the All NBA second team, and finished top 10 in MVP voting, making it clear to all that although the star point guard was getting older, he still had a lot left in the tank.

Coming into the playoffs, Paul would get a look at his former team, the Rockets. The Rockets had received Russell Westbrook in exchange for Paul in the pursuit of crafting a new star backcourt. Paul had an extremely solid series, and after trailing 2-0 in the series, him and the Thunder won three of the next four, forcing a game seven. Unfortunately, the Thunder would fall just short, losing by two points. Although a disappointing end to a Cinderella season, it showed something to the rest of the league: Chris Paul was nowhere near done. And if you wanted to instate a winning culture, the Point God was your guy.

The Phoenix Suns would take advantage. The year before, the Suns had finished as the tenth seed in the West, going 34-39 and missing the playoffs. They decided to bring in Chris Paul, and immediately their ceiling would shoot up. They won 51 games in 2021, finishing second in the West. The star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker would get it done, with both making the All Star team, and CP3 being nominated yet again to the All NBA second team.

Once the playoffs rolled around, the Suns would only turn up the heat. They beat the Lakers in round one, the Nuggets in round two, and the Clippers in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in CP3’s career. They went up 2-0 against the Milwaukee Bucks, and a championship finally seemed in reach for Paul. Unfortunately, the Greek Freak had other plans. Giannis Antetokounmpo went berserk for the rest of the series, ending the series averaging 35, 13, and 5, and bringing home the Larry O’Brien and the Finals MVP.

The next year, the Suns had another great regular season, with CP3 leading the league in assists per game for the first time since 2015, but the playoffs would prove disappointing, being dismantled by Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Paul would play the 2023 season with the Suns as well, but that would end in a second round exit to the eventual champion Denver, and with it would bring the end of Chris Paul’s time in Phoenix.

The Final Years

It was clear by this time that Chris Paul’s time as a star had come to an end. Phoenix, in an effort to rid themselves of an aging Paul’s contract and form a big three with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, shipped Paul to the Washington Wizards. Paul was caught off guard by the deal, but his eventful offseason was not yet over. The Wizards would turn around and ship the veteran to Golden State in exchange for Jordan Poole.

Now with the Warriors, who had kept him from the Finals all those years ago, Paul was playing a different role. Lacking the defensive upside and hustle that he had in his younger years, and without as much scoring touch, Paul transitioned into a true pass first role. Using his vision and expertise, he found his teammates for open looks, playing a valuable role as a veteran point guard. Paul’s true value, however, came off the court. Having an all time great as a mentor and teacher is exceptionally helpful for young players, and Paul would willingly play that role.

Paul would take on a similar role with the San Antonio Spurs the following season. Another team that had kept Paul from greater success in his heyday, he now played a sort of player coach role, getting the ball to Victor Wembanyama and mentoring a young team. He played in every game of the 2025 season, despite being 39 years old, and still put up decent numbers of 9 points and 7 assists per game.

For his last season, Paul elected to return to Los Angeles, signing a one year contract with the Clippers. So far, the Clippers have suffered a disappointing start to the year, and CP3’s level of play is far from what it used to be, but who knows: the CP3 winning effect may be enough for one last hurrah.

Hall of Famer

Now that Chris Paul has announced his retirement, we can look back on his full career in retrospect. Saving an incredible run with the Clippers this season, it appears as if Paul will retire without a championship. To the casual fan, that may put a damper on Chris Paul’s resume. But to an enjoyer of the game of basketball, Chris Paul will go down as one of the greats. From the accolades perspective, CP3 jumps off the page: a 12 time All Star, 11 time All NBA member, and 9 time All Defensive member. From the stats perspective, he’s arguably more impressive: a 5 time assists leader and 6 time assist leader as well as being second all time in total assists, second all time in total steals, and top 40 in total points scored. But from the eye test and impact, that’s where Paul makes his real mark. A bonafide winner, he made every team he ever played for better, bringing an incredible understanding of the game and veteran presence that few can match. At just six feet tall, Chris Paul rose above the giants, and now that his career is wrapping up we can truly congratulate him on a legendary, hall of fame career.