SAN ANTONIO — Chris Paul glanced up as a rookie in a sport at Utah and browse the phrases: “John Stockton, all-time steals and assists chief.”
“I am gonna catch him,” he thought again then, solely to comprehend later, “that was a lie.”
Nonetheless, almost twenty years later, Paul stays on the chase after surpassing Jason Kidd on Sunday with profession help No. 12,092 to maneuver into second place behind Stockton in profession assists throughout San Antonio’s 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Paul reached the milestone along with his third help of the evening, directed Victor Wembanyama’s method with 7:06 left within the first half for a 25-foot 3-pointer.
Maybe a very powerful help got here with 37 ticks left, when Wembanyama knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer close to the highest of the important thing off a Paul go, earlier than ending the evening with a game-high 25 factors, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
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“Vic had been out a couple of video games,” Paul mentioned. “He got here again simply in time. It has been actually cool to be part of his journey. The fellows, they gave me a memorable present. Not solely a win, however a ball and a giant image with all of the groups I’ve performed with, however extra so all the fellows I’ve assisted in my profession. I undoubtedly wasn’t anticipating that.”
Paul completed with 11 factors and 13 assists, which elevated his profession complete to 12,099 assists.
Paul additionally grew to become the second participant in league historical past to log 600 10-assist video games, becoming a member of Stockton, who tallied 863 such video games over his Corridor of Fame profession.
“It is a tremendous accomplishment,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson mentioned. “It is a privilege to have the ability to see it up shut and private. We’re witnessing greatness. Loads of us have competed towards him. We have all watched him. And to have the ability to expertise it firsthand is a privilege. He is nonetheless doing it at a excessive stage. We’re grateful of that. He deserves all of the reward and a spotlight that comes with that as a result of it is a hell of an honor.”
Paul, 39, achieved the feat on the evening Wembanyama returned to the lineup after a three-game absence due to again soreness. San Antonio referred to as for a timeout with 6:46 left within the first half, and the sport was stopped briefly to commemorate Paul’s milestone with a brief video tribute on the scoreboard at Frost Financial institution Middle.
Celebrating historical past 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Z0tmkxYWvZ
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 9, 2024
Wembanyama admitted he wished to play a task in one thing so historic.
“I acquired to be on this one,” he mentioned. “Simply the celebration, it was the perfect. I am very, very happy with him. He is simply unimaginable how he would not simply do issues midway. He is by no means simply on the court docket simply to be on the court docket. He is attempting to win, looking for options. It is a trait you discover in all these gamers, these greats that stick round for years and years.”
After a 13-assist efficiency on Friday towards Sacramento — which included six dimes within the first quarter alone — Paul did not ship his first help towards the Pelicans till the 9:40 mark of the second quarter, hitting Keldon Johnson for a 6-foot jumper. With 8:02 remaining within the first half, Paul made an help to veteran Harrison Barnes within the nook for a 3-pointer.
“He is resilient. That is the phrase for him,” teammate Julian Champagnie mentioned. “He figures it out.”
The identical could be mentioned of San Antonio, collectively, contemplating 4 gamers left the ground for the locker room as a result of accidents in Wembanyama (again), Zach Collins (again), Stephon Fort (shoulder) and Keldon Johnson (left calf) and the Spurs nonetheless managed to drag out a detailed win. Wembanyama and Fort returned to motion within the second half, however the Spurs declared Collins and Johnson out for the rest of the sport.
As for Paul, his assists have now gone to 173 completely different recipients over the course of his 20-year profession.
“Unimaginable to see what he is nonetheless doing,” mentioned Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced, who spent one 12 months as a teammate of Paul’s with the New Orleans Hornets and two extra with him with the LA Clippers. “His thoughts continues to be working like he is processing the sport. He is working with these guys in follow, and you’ll see the crew’s progress since he is gotten right here.”
Paul, in the meantime, briefly regarded again on his profession that began in New Orleans, and admitted reaching the assists milestone towards that franchise was extra significant given his NBA beginnings. The veteran additionally joked about what it meant to lastly go Kidd.
“He acquired his one centesimal triple-double towards me,” Paul mentioned. “[The milestone] means I’ve performed a very long time. However J. Kidd did, too, and that is what I respect. I do not suppose individuals notice the longer you play on this league, the longer you take note of the fellows who had longevity. So, [I’m] undoubtedly grateful to nonetheless be right here.”
