5 active locks for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Chris Paul

• Career stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.5 APG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2 SPG, .470/.370/.870 shooting splits
• Advanced stats: 179.5 win shares, 7.6 box plus-minus, 58.2 percent true shooting
• Accolades: 8-time All-NBA selection, 4-time assist champ, 6-time steals champion, 2005-06 ROTY

Last but certainly not least we have Chris Paul, another statistical monster who just couldn’t get that ring. Regardless of what you think about his playoff feasibility, he was a damn good player for a very long time.

Paul just might be the second-best point guard ever. When comparing him through 15 seasons to John Stockton, Steve Nash and Jason Kidd through 15, the Point God lives up to his name in almost all aspects.

Every team he’s touched has gotten better. The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets experienced great success thanks to him, the Los Angeles Clippers were one dynasty away from a Finals berth, and he may very well have reached a Finals with Houston if not for an injury in Game 5 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Even on a Thunder team that seemed destined for a rebuild, Paul has helped guide them to their current placement of fifth in the West.

If 18 and 9 a night aren’t enough, look to Paul’s on-off numbers. Per 100 possessions, his teams have gotten 10.8 points better on average when he takes the court. This is true on the aggregate too, as he has one of the best plus/minus figures in NBA history. Part of that comes from Paul’s domineering style and personality, but it’s clearly effective.

His shortcomings in the playoffs are notable, no doubt. He probably shouldn’t be your best player if a championship is the goal. But he is the model for true point guards: a precise passer who’s effective from all areas of the floor while also defending fellow point guards with tenacity.

All statistics gathered from Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.