It’s official. “Point God” Chris Paul is hanging up his jersey after 21 fruitful NBA seasons. Although celebrated as one of the best to ever do it, his retirement has sparked a debate, with some still questioning where Paul really ranks on the NBA’s all-time point guard list.
Who Are the NBA’s All-Time Top 5 Point Guards?
Most top-5 lists include Magic Johnson, Steph Curry, and Oscar Robertson, with the other two usually up for debate. And, really, it’s hard to argue with these three. Magic saved the NBA in the ‘80s and won multiple championships and MVPs. Curry, the greatest shooter in history, revolutionized the game and was the first unanimous MVP. Meanwhile, Big O was way ahead of his time, putting up triple-doubles before the triple-dub was even a thing.
As for the remaining two spots, it’s still up for discussion.
Some believe that list must include Isiah Thomas, who gave the Detroit Pistons two championships and handed Michael Jordan problems back in the day. Others think it should be John Stockton, the all-time assists and steals leader, or two-time MVP Steve Nash, despite both players being ringless.
A handful of fans also believe Chris Paul’s name should be on that list. Across 1,370 regular-season games, CP3 totaled 23,058 points, 6,006 rebounds, 12,552 assists, and 2,728 steals. He’s ranked second all time in assists and steals behind Stockton and is the only player to ever amass 23,000 points and 12,000 assists.
In 21 seasons, Paul was named an NBA All-Star 12 times, received 11 All-NBA and 9 All-Defensive team honors, and brought home two Olympic gold medals.
Chris Paul Is Top 5-ish
Chris Paul’s accolades speak for themselves; however, his biggest shortcoming is not winning either an MVP award or a championship. He came close in the MVP race in 2008 but lost to the late Kobe Bryant. His only shot at becoming a champion was with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, but he fell short against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Losing out on both achievements was a huge blow to CP3’s legacy. While putting Chris Paul in the top 5 is justifiable, it is still debatable. It’s also understandable why some believe it’s ridiculous to put him on that list over the likes of Isiah Thomas, Steve Nash, and John Stockton—not to mention other notable candidates like Bob Cousy, Walt Frazier, Russell Westbrook, Jason Kidd, and many others.
That’s why Chris Paul is top 5-ish, depending on what part of basketball you consider. If we highlight rings and championships, neither of which Paul has, he’s clearly out. But if we look at his efficiency, impact, and the ability to make every team he joins better, then he’s obviously right up there with the greats.
Still, there’s no doubt Chris Paul belongs on the top-10 list of greatest point guards ever, and he will always be remembered as one of the best pass-first floor generals in history. Truly, he was among the last of his kind.
