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January 26, 2009
At the age of 23 Chris Paul has already joined or passed a lot of exclusive company in the NBA, so it should come as no surprise that he has once again joined an elite group by being voted in as a Western Conference All-Star starter.
Before we elaborate about his newest ground-breaking category let’s review how he got there.
He started with the Robertsons (unrelated):
He passed Alvin Robertson earlier this season and now holds the league record for most consecutive games with a steal (108). Paul also put up 33 pts/11 ast/10 reb/7 stl at Dallas earlier this month to become one of two EVER to accomplish the feat (Alvin was the other in 1986).
He passed Oscar Robertson earlier this season when he recorded the most 20 point/10 assist games to begin a season (7). He also passed everyone EXCEPT the Big O when he reached 2,500 career assists in the second-fewest amount of games.
He posted the first 30 point/15 assists/0 turnover game in the Association since 1989. The last guy to do it was John Stockton.
He became the first player since ’91-’92…Stockton…to lead the league in assists and steals, which he is again doing this season.
He averaged 11.5 steals and 3.1 steals per game in December. The last NBA player to do that in a month of at least 10 games was…Stockton (in 1995).
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He leads everyone in the league with four triple doubles.
Those are just some of the abridged highlights of an NBA career that seems longer than 3-plus seasons. I haven’t even mentioned his back to back 30 point/10 assist games to begin his POST-season career or his 14 point/14 assist performance in his All-Star Game debut last February to become just the fourth player ever to reach those numbers.
I have a theory about the best point guard on the planet; if you look hard enough you will uncover another record he has either tied or broken but no one knows about because he’s breaking new statistical ground on a daily basis. There aren’t enough websites or statistical analysis programs to keep up with him!
For now, let’s settle for evaluating the newest elite group he has joined.
Chris Paul has become just the third Hornets player ever (and the first New Orleans Hornet) to be voted in as an NBA All-Star starter. The others are: Larry Johnson and Eddie Jones.
LJ (aka “Grandmama”) was voted in by the fans in 1993 to start the game played in Salt Lake City, UT. Jones, acquired from the Lakers in a deal involving Glen Rice, was voted in by fans coast to coast in 2000 and started the game played in Oakland, CA.
CP also becomes one of just four Hornets ever to appear in more than one all star classic (LJ, Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice, and Baron Davis).
Glen Rice is the only Hornet ever to win an all star game MVP (1997) when he scored 26 points in 25 minutes off the bench in Cleveland, OH. Most followers of last year’s all star game agree that had the West come back to win Paul would have garnered the honor (LeBron won it as did the East).
Paul becomes just the third Hornet ever to make it to back to back all star games (joining Mourning, ’94-’95, and Rice, ’96,’97,’98).
The 6-0 point guard has also participated in the last three Skills Competitions to become the first Hornet to compete in more than one.
When I started researching and comparing the numbers I had to continuously remind myself that the player I was studying was just 23 years old, was only in his fourth full season of pro ball, was only six years removed from high school, and had not yet reached his athletic prime.
It reminded me that when we cover the Hornets on CST we are witnessing a Hall of Fame talent. He is not just an extraordinary player, leader, community participant; he is the best many of us will ever witness in person.
So, let’s all take advantage of the immense privilege we currently have and watch as many games during his all star years as we possibly can, because this time will be fondly looked back on years from now as THE CHRIS PAUL ERA.
And wouldn’t it be a shame if you missed it?
