NBA
Paul 3rd on all time assists list, but who does CP3 trail?
Chris Paul moved into third place on the all time assists list, passing Steve Nash. Paul finished the night with 18 assists in the win over the Pelicans
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul has been around the NBA since 2005. In his nearly two decades in the league he has been lauded as one of the best point guards active, or not, to play the position. He now sits in sole possession of third place on the all time assist list, but how far away is he from the top spot?
Just Stockton and Kidd ahead of Nash
On Tuesday night Paul found Jae Crowder behind the arc for his 10,336th assist of his long NBA career. The dish put him above Steve Nash on the career assist list leaving him with just two more players above him.
"I'm grateful and I thank God for this opportunity," Paul said. "I say it all the time, not only to be on a team and still be in the league but to still be playing. You don't take that for granted."
Jason Kidd and John Stockton are the only two above Paul on the all time list. Kidd dished out 12,091 over the course of his two decade long career in which he averaged 7.7 assists a game.
Will Stockton's 15,806 ever be topped?
Stockton is in a league of his own with 15,806 assists for his career he is miles ahead of the pack. He averaged 10.5 assists a game over his 19 year career. A number that Chris Paul sees as being a bit to distant to reach before he hangs up his sneakers.
"I looked at that list when I first came into the league and seeing that John Stockton and I was like, 'I'm going to get it.' But that ship sailed. That ship sailed. It sailed a while ago when I started missing all them games," Paul said with a laugh. "But to be third and still be playing, I'm grateful for it and I still got a ways to go."
Paul finished the game against the Pelicans with a season-high 18 assists as Phoenix topped New Orleans 112-100. After the game, Paul’s teammate Devin Booker was full of praise for his point guard.
Paul in elite company for assists per game list
"We keep acting like this is normal," Suns guard Devin Booker said of Paul's achievements. "We go in the locker room like, 'Oh you passed Steve Nash, Mark Jackson. Game ball.' It's bigger than that, man. It really is. Obviously I know he was going to be close coming into today and he passed it by a lot. I'm just happy to be a part of it."
Paul’s 9.5 assists a game is good enough for 4th all time, after Magic Johnson (11.2), Stockton (10.5), and Oscar Robinson (9.5).