Behind LeBron James and PJ Tucker, the oldest player in the NBA is none other than Chris Paul. Slowly heading towards his fortieth birthday (he will celebrate it next May), he is even almost twice as old as his teammate Stephon Castle.
However, the Texan grandpa does much more than resist San Antoniosince he has regained a starting status and averages 10.2 points, 8.5 assists (for 1.8 turnovers), 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 interceptions, over 29 minutes and 43% shooting, 35% at 3-points and… 100% on free throws.
Given his longevity, Chris Paul also allows himself to strengthen his place in the NBA history books, having just become the 2nd best passer in the regular season and preparing to become the 2nd best interceptor. The fact remains that time is passing and “CP3” is inevitably getting closer to retirement… which he is clearly not yet ready to take.
“ Maybe [dans] one or two years… » he replied during an interview in which Tony Parker, a former rival, asked him when he saw himself hanging up. “ I'm still trying to figure that out. But the hardest part is that I love this sport, I love playing, I love all of it. But it's also difficult when I come home and have to watch my children's games on iPad or whatever… That's what's bothering me right now. »
Keep playing… but then?
While waiting to think about what would be heartbreaking today, Chris Paul is in any case enjoying his adventure among the Spursafter a stint at Golden State that was frustrating to say the least as a replacement with his lowest playing time of his career (26 minutes per game).
“ Last season was probably one of my most difficult seasons. I love playing basketball, I want to play, so if I have to sacrifice time with my family and be away from them, then at least I have to know that I can play. »
Still very undecided about his “life after”, between the temptation of coaching, his predispositions for a consultant role and above all his desire to become an owner, Chris Paul will want whatever happens to use his experience as a player to carry out his future projects…
“ Coming into the league, I told myself I would only play for one team, but ultimately I feel so grateful to have been able to play for all these different franchises » Confided the one who played for the Hornets, the Clippers, the Rockets, the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors then the Spurs. “ So now I tell myself that if I became an owner, for example, I could apply everything I learned in these different places. »
| Chris Paul | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2005-06 | NOP | 78 | 36 | 43.0 | 28.2 | 84.7 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 16.1 |
| 2006-07 | NOP | 64 | 37 | 43.7 | 35.0 | 81.8 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 8.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 17.2 |
| 2007-08 | NOP | 80 | 38 | 48.8 | 36.9 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 11.6 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 21.1 |
| 2008-09 | NOP | 78 | 39 | 50.3 | 36.4 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 11.0 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 22.8 |
| 2009-10 | NOP | 45 | 38 | 49.3 | 40.9 | 84.7 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 10.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 18.7 |
| 2010-11 | NOP | 80 | 36 | 46.3 | 38.8 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 15.8 |
| 2011-12 | LAKE | 60 | 36 | 47.8 | 37.1 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 19.8 |
| 2012-13 | LAKE | 70 | 33 | 48.1 | 32.8 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 9.7 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 16.9 |
| 2013-14 | LAKE | 62 | 35 | 46.7 | 36.8 | 85.5 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 10.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 19.1 |
| 2014-15 | LAKE | 82 | 35 | 48.5 | 39.8 | 90.0 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2015-16 | LAKE | 74 | 33 | 46.2 | 37.1 | 89.6 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 19.5 |
| 2016-17 | LAKE | 61 | 32 | 47.6 | 41.1 | 89.2 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | HOU | 58 | 32 | 46.0 | 38.0 | 91.9 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 7.9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 18.6 |
| 2018-19 | HOU | 58 | 32 | 41.9 | 35.8 | 86.2 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 15.6 |
| 2019-20 | OKC | 70 | 32 | 48.9 | 36.5 | 90.7 | 0.4 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 70 | 31 | 49.9 | 39.5 | 93.4 | 0.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 16.4 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 65 | 33 | 49.3 | 31.7 | 83.7 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 10.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 14.7 |
| 2022-23 | PHX | 59 | 32 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 83.1 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 13.9 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 58 | 26 | 44.1 | 37.1 | 82.7 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 9.2 |
| 2024-25 | SAN | 24 | 29 | 42.8 | 35.2 | 100.0 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 10.2 |
| Total | 1296 | 34 | 47.0 | 36.9 | 87.1 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 9.3 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 17.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
