Veteran Chris Paul has moved up to second place on the NBA’s all-time assists list. Paul surpassed Hall of Famer Jason Kidd in Sunday night’s 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Paul entered the Pelicans game needing three assists to top Kidd’s 12,091 mark. He did that midway through the second quarter with an assist for Victor Wembanyama’s three-pointer.
Paul finished the night with 10 assists, upping his total to 12,099 in 1,296 games played. However, he still has a long way to go in order to catch up to John Stockton, who had 15,806 career assists in 19 seasons in the league.
“[The milestone] means I have played a long time. But J. Kidd did, too, and that’s what I appreciate,” said Paul after the game. “I don’t think people realize the longer you play in this league, the longer you pay attention to the guys who had longevity. So, [I’m] definitely grateful to still be here.”
Chris Paul, currently in his 20th NBA season, signed with the Spurs as a free agent in the summer on a one-year, $11 million deal. The Spurs wanted him to bring experience and leadership to their young team, and he has been excellent in that role so far.
Paul is currently averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The Spurs are currently 11th in the Western Conference with a 12-12 record.
