Honestly, it’s kinda wild that we're still talking about Chris Paul playing professional basketball in 2026. Most guys his size are long gone by age 35, let alone 40. But CP3? He’s basically the basketball equivalent of a vintage Rolex—getting older, sure, but somehow more respected because he just refuses to stop ticking.
The Chris Paul stats career narrative is one of the most polarizing things in sports. You’ve got the "analytics nerds" who worship his efficiency and the "ring culture" crowd who won't let him breathe because he doesn't have a trophy. But look at the numbers. They don't lie. Even now, as he winds down his 21st season back where a lot of the magic happened with the Los Angeles Clippers, the impact is undeniable.
The Mount Rushmore of Playmaking
If you want to understand the Chris Paul stats career arc, you have to start with the assists. As of mid-January 2026, Chris Paul sits firmly at #2 on the NBA's all-time assist list. He recently cleared the 12,552 mark, putting him ahead of legends like Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.
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The gap between him and John Stockton is still massive—Stockton’s 15,806 is basically a fictional number at this point—but being the second-best floor general in the history of the game? That’s not a bad consolation prize.
What’s even crazier is how he did it. Unlike some high-volume passers, Paul rarely turns the ball over. His assist-to-turnover ratio is usually somewhere in the "how is that even possible" range. For a decade, he basically coached the game while playing it. He sees plays three seconds before they happen.
A Masterclass in Defensive Thievery
People forget he’s a menace on the other end, too. Or they used to. Even at 40, he’s still poking balls loose. He’s currently 2nd all-time in steals with 2,728.
Think about that.
He’s top two in the two most important categories for a point guard.
- 9x All-Defensive Team selections (mostly First Team)
- 6x NBA Steals Leader
- 5x NBA Assist Leader
He wasn't just a "pass-first" guy; he was a "I'm going to take your lunch money and then set up my teammate for an easy dunk" guy.
The "Point God" Efficiency
Most people look at a guy's points per game and think that's the whole story. With Paul, it's about the quality of the points. He’s averaged around 17 points for his career, which doesn't sound like LeBron numbers, but his shooting splits are clinical.
We’re talking about a guy who lived in the mid-range. While the rest of the league started hunting three-pointers like they were going out of style, Paul stayed true to that elbow jumper. It was automatic. Basically, if the shot clock was at four seconds and CP3 had the ball at the free-throw line, you might as well just head back on defense.
The Impact on Winning (The CP3 Effect)
This is the part of the Chris Paul stats career that the box score doesn't always show, but every front office knows it.
Everywhere he goes, the win total spikes.
New Orleans? He made them a contender.
The Clippers? He turned them from a joke into "Lob City."
Houston? They were one hamstring injury away from beating the greatest team ever (the 2018 Warriors).
Oklahoma City? He took a "rebuilding" team to the playoffs when everyone said they had a 0% chance.
Phoenix? He took them to the Finals in year one.
Why the 2025-26 Season is Different
This year has been... different. He signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Clippers for a final run. It’s been a bit rocky lately—he was actually away from the team for a minute during an East Coast road trip in December, sparking all kinds of retirement rumors.
Right now, he's averaging about 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in limited minutes (around 14 per game). It’s a far cry from his prime, but he’s already announced this is it. The 2025-26 season is the farewell tour.
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Let's Talk About the Playoffs
The one "stat" people use against him is 0—the number of rings. It’s a fair critique in a sport obsessed with championships, but it ignores the context. Paul has had some of the worst injury luck in the history of the league. 2015, 2018, 2021—every time he’s on the verge of the mountaintop, something gives out.
Does that change his legacy? For some, yeah. But if you're looking at pure basketball mastery, his stats tell the story of a player who maximized every inch of his 6'0" frame.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking the end of this legendary career, here is what you should be watching for in the coming weeks:
- Monitor the Trade Deadline: February 5, 2026, is the big date. Paul is still under contract with the Clippers but hasn't been in the rotation lately. Watch for a buyout or a small trade to a contender looking for "old man strength" in the locker room.
- Check the All-Time Totals: He’s currently at 12,552 assists. Every single one he gets now just moves that #2 spot further out of reach for guys like James Harden or Russell Westbrook.
- Appreciate the Mid-Range: If he gets back on the floor, watch his footwork. It’s a dying art. He uses his body to shield defenders in a way that players today just don't do.
Chris Paul isn't going to catch John Stockton, and he might not get that elusive ring this year. But the Chris Paul stats career totals have already cemented him as the most complete small guard to ever play the game. Whether he finishes the season in LA or somewhere else, the "Point God" era is officially in its final chapter.