New NBA Record

Chris Paul Sets Unique New NBA Record

Considering this is the 75th anniversary season of the NBA, it’s only appropriate for the competition to enjoy a few more milestones, during what already promises to be a landmark basketball campaign for so many reasons. Now, 36-year-old veteran Chris Paul has reason to celebrate, having established a previously unattainable record all of his own. Chris Paul Sets Unique New NBA Record-

Throughout the entire 75-year history of the NBA, no player had ever surpassed the combined totals of 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in their career. Following a second-quarter free throw against the Los Angeles Lakers, during a triumphant second game of the season for the Phoenix Suns, that remarkable record was established by Paul.

Undoubtedly reaching the twilight of his phenomenal career, given that nobody else had managed to reach the milestone, this could be a record which stands the test of time. Indeed, there are only two other active player who might equal or possibly surpass the record set by Paul, due to the fact that few others are anywhere near the numbers they would need.

The closest active NBA player is LeBron James, who after 3 games of the 2021-22 season, has 35,445 career points and 9,712 career assists. His Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook is the next possible candidate, now pushing towards 22,000 career points and heading towards 8,100 career assists. If they fall short of Paul’s record, it could be a long time before anyone matches or exceeds the 20k/10k record.

Close, But No Cigar

Others have come close over the years, although nobody had ever managed to crack the 20,000/10,000 target. In a 14-year career from 1960-61 to 1973-74, 12-times NBA All-Star Oscar Robertson scored 26,710 points with the Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings) and the Milwaukee Bucks, although he was just short of the other barrier with 9,887 career assists.

At the end of his 19-year career playing exclusively for the Utah Jazz, 10-times NBA All-Star John Stockton was another to come close. He registered 15,806 career assists, yet finished shy of the previously untouchable 20k/10k landmark with 19,711 career points. As fellow point guards, both Stockton and Robertson joined Paul in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

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While he is clearly considered to be amongst the greatest players of all-time, with this new NBA milestone being a clear testimony to his quality and consistency, Paul has never won the NBA championship. The big prize has always been out of reach, despite being regarded as one of the most influential players in the NBA, regardless of whichever team he has represented.

The Rise to Greatness

Selected fourth overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by New Orleans, the 2005-06 debut season for Paul was nothing short of spectacular. He topped the rookie charts in total points, assists, steals, and double-doubles, along with becoming only the second rookie to lead the league in totals steals. Those feats earned Paul the coveted 2006 Rookie of the Year award.

Paul went on to become a rapidly rising star, earning his first NBA All-Star Game selection in 2007-2008. This was undoubtedly made all the more memorable for him personally, given the All-Star Game that season was played in front of his home crowd in New Orleans. During the six-year stay with the Hornets, the team only managed to reach the NBA Playoffs on three occasions, which eventually prompted his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

While the Clippers consistently reached the Playoffs in each of his six campaigns with the franchise, Paul and his team were never able to push beyond the Conference Semifinals threshold, where they fell short on three out of six occasions. After his departure, Paul consistently to post excellent numbers, always amongst the best in the NBA, during two seasons at the Houston Rockets, then one single campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Rebirth at the Phoenix Suns

Several franchises were keenly interested in what Paul could bring their teams, although in the end it was the Phoenix Suns who made the move, when Oklahoma decided to cash in on his high market value as one of the best NBA point guards. Even with Paul’s acquisition, few bookies considered the Suns to be championship contenders and in retrospect, this is why looking an overview of bonuses and betting sites always makes good sense, along with detailed reviews of what each online betting site has to offer.

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Essentially, the Suns and Paul went on to defy all expectations during the 2020-21 campaign, which led to their futures odds tumbling rapidly as the season progressed. Paul topped the league charts with his free throws percentage, along with ranking highly in other key metrics, including points and assists throughout the regular season. This helped the Suns to comfortably top the Pacific Division, and finish second in the Western Conference standings.

In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Suns upset the bookies and stunned their favorites, beating the LA Lakers 4-2 in the First Round. They demolish the Denver Nuggets 4-0 in the Conference Semifinals, then continued to impress with a 4-2 series triumph against the LA Clippers in the Conference Finals. Unfortunately for Paul and his ambitions of attaining a first NBA championship, despite leading the series 2-0, the Suns ultimately fell short, losing 4-2 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Still, given the exceptional consistency Paul continues to produce, maybe this 2021-22 campaign will be different, following his record-breaking achievement early in the season. They have made a slow start, although form should improve once the team begins to find its regular season rhythm. Having inked a four-year contract extension at the start of the season, winning that elusive NBA title must surely be an accolade Paul craves, before the eleven-times NBA All-Star ends what has been a spectacular career.

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