Positional Power Rankings: 30 best point guards in the NBA
By Connor Learn
Chris Paul
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Chris Paul has continued to play at a very high level as he approaches 32-years-old. He has changed his game as he has aged. Once one of the league’s best players around the rim, Paul has developed a more better three ball over the years and is very reliable from his spots from mid-range as well. The knock on Paul and the Clippers have been their failures in the playoffs, but he will head into this postseason playing as well as he ever has to give it another shot.
Paul’s basic statistics of 17.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds don’t jump off the page as much as some of his other peers do. But other stats show just how good he still is. His 2.0 steals per game ties John Wall for second in the league. He is third in the league in both Box Plus-Minus. Paul is also second in the league in assist/turnover ratio and first among all point guards in defensive Real Plus-Minus. The stats back up Chris Paul as one of the league’s best point guards.
A ninth All-NBA selection is likely for Chris Paul this season, as well as his ninth selection for the All-Defense team. He has shot a career high 41.8 percent on 3-pointers this season following offseason eye surgery, and raising that aspect of his game has only made him better. There is an argument for Paul being the most complete point guard in NBA history: others have played better, but nobody has had as few weaknesses. His legacy will be helped if the Clippers make a strong playoff run this season, and he is ready for that challenge.