The magician behind the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers made history in his Sunday night outing with a 10-assist performance. Chris Paul now stands alone in second place behind John Stockton in all-time assists with 12,099.
The “Point God” spent six seasons with the Clippers, supporting five fifty-win seasons. Though Paul has been made infamous for his lack of post-season success — especially in Los Angeles — he revived a franchise that was behind the shadow of its big brother, the Lakers.
During his tenure in Los Angeles, Paul racked up 4,023 assists, averaging 9.8 per game, and finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting five times, peaking at No. 3.
Will Former Los Angeles Clippers Guard Chris Paul Catch John Stockton?
Paul trails Stockton’s 15,806 assist record by 3,707. The 39-year-old point guard would need to continue his season’s 8.5 assist average for 437 more games to catch what is considered one of the most unbreakable records in all of NBA history.
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To put it in perspective, for Paul to stand alone in the all-time assists charts, he would need to dish out nearly 700 assists for the next five seasons. The feat is most likely out of reach, but eclipsing Jason Kidd for second all-time is an achievement in and of itself.
“Well-deserved, incredible, future Hall-Of-Famer,” Kidd said in regards to Paul’s milestone. “Congratulations to him and what he’s accomplished, he’s not done. I don’t know if he can catch Stockton, I don’t think anyone can catch Stockton. Stockton’s number is pretty impressive, but for Chris to be second, that’s big time.”
Though the former fourth-overall pick will most likely call it a career sooner rather than later, his race for first place will fall short. However, he has a greater chance to pass Kidd in another all-time stat — steals.
Paul only trails Kidd by 36 steals for second all-time and will most likely receive another congratulations later this season.
In his 20th season, Paul is averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. If his averages continue, it is another 26 games before the former Clipper guard will lie second to Stockton in yet another career stat line.