San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul made history on Sunday as he moved to No. 2 in the NBA all-time assists leaders. Paul recorded his 12,092nd assist in the first half, which led to a 121-116 win for the Spurs. After the game, the veteran point guard had 12,099 assists.
CP3 is known to be one of the best passers in the league and has made a career as a floor general. After his achievement, Paul was interviewed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews, who asked what the accolade meant to him.
“The moment was cool, it was really cool,” Paul said. “Got a chance to have all my family in town.”
“I also got a text from J-Kidd, which I appreciated. He’s somebody that I looked up to for a long time.”
When asked about which assist stands out the most in his illustrious career, Paul said there are countless of moments. However, he still remembers the lob pass he threw to DeAndre Jordan during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers which ended in a Brandon Knight poster.
“There’s a few of them. Blake and DJ. That lob city town was crazy. Obviously that lob to DJ, everybody always remembers. Tyson Chandler, a lot of those lobs… I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a lot of great players over my career.”
Chris Paul with @malika_andrews on passing Jason Kidd for 2nd all-time on the NBA assists list 📈 pic.twitter.com/e8GI34SVq3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 10, 2024
Paul has led the league in the category five times and averaged 9.3 assists throughout his career. In the 2007–08 season, CP3 led the league in assists. He had his highest career average of 11.6 assists.
The only player standing in the way of Paul for the top spot is John Stockton, who played his entire career with the Utah Jazz. Stockton recorded 15,806 assists in his career.
Chris Paul is not friends with a former Clippers star forward anymore
Credit: Getty Images
Chris Paul is known around the league as he once served as president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021. He built a reputation that represents the players and helped the league grow. Paul George is one player, though, with whom he is no longer friendly.
On Sunday’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” the former Clippers star spoke about his changed relationship with the point guard.
“People don’t know this, but me and CP used to have a great relationship, he’s the reason I got Lasik,” George said. “I had a conversation with him, and he recommended an eye doctor for me, I went to go see the eye doctor, and I got Lasik, and my eyes have been terrific. Our relationship was up to that level where I could give him a call.”
However, George’s dynamic with Paul changed following the 2021 Playoffs where the Clippers played against the Phoenix Suns.
“Words were a thrown out there that shouldn’t be thrown out there between two men, and so that drew the line for me,” George said. “I’m one of those that once you’re on one side, bro, you’re staying there. I get where that competitive nature comes from. I don’t know if it’s that little man syndrome, but he has that competitive nature.”
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
