12-Time All-Star Point Guard Signs with the Clippers
There’s no doubt that the 40-year-old Chris Paul is a future NBA Hall of Famer. Last July, he signed a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Although San Antonio did not make the playoffs this past season, with the help of the 12-time all-star in CP3, the Spurs were able to improve upon the play of their future cornerstone talent in Victor Wembanyama before he went down with a blood clot in his right shoulder in February that kept him out for the remainder of the season. The 2006 Rookie of the Year also showed his durability at such a late stage in his career by playing in all 82 games this past season, something he’s never done before in his career. Now a free agent once again, it was reported that Paul signed a deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers.
CP3 started off his career being drafted fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets back in the 2005 NBA Draft. He ended up winning Rookie of the Year after averaging 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals a game. After spending six seasons in New Orleans, Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where the infamous ‘Lob City’ team was formed alongside Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. Even with this team being a playoff team, year after year, this team could never reach the pinnacle of their potential, as they were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals in three out of five seasons together. The five-time NBA assist-leading point guard was eventually traded to the Houston Rockets. During his first season playing alongside James Harden, Paul and the Rockets made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost in seven games to the eventual NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.
After another Western Conference Semifinals exit in the 2018-2019 season, Paul was traded once again, this time to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That year, many analysts and experts predicted the Thunder wouldn’t be a playoff team, however, CP3 showed the NBA that he can redefine himself as one of the best point guards of our generation, bringing the Thunder to the playoffs, and although they were eliminated in Game Seven of the first round, Paul’s stock rose significantly. Once again, the six-time NBA steals-leading point guard was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Alongside Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton in their first season together, the Suns made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. They would lose to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Paul spent one more season in Phoenix before being traded a fifth time in his career to the Golden State Warriors. CP3’s time playing next to Stephen Curry was ultimately disappointing, as this team would be eliminated in the Play-In Tournament by the Sacramento Kings.
Paul’s resume is stacked. A 12-time all-star, the 2013 NBA All-Star Game MVP, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, a five-time NBA assist leader, and a six-time NBA steals leader. He was elected to the All-NBA First Team four times, the All-NBA Second Team five times, and the All-NBA Third Team twice, as well as a seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team and a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team. CP3 was also selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Now, returning to the Clippers, the future Hall of Famer should look for one more positive season to end his career on a good note.
