Chris Paul will likely move into second place in career assists when the Spurs host New Orleans Sunday night, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. The veteran point guard handed out 13 assists Friday night, leaving him only two behind Jason Kidd’s total of 12,089. With John Stockton far off at 15,806, this might be the last time in Paul’s career that he moves up the list.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to still continue to play,” Paul said. “It has been so many, he’s done here, he’s done there, you know what I mean? So, I think it’s a lot of gratitude. And if that (passing Kidd) happens, I’ll be grateful.”
It appeared Paul’s arrangement with San Antonio might be a short one when he signed a one-year, $11MM contract over the summer. However, he’s shown that his game is still sharp at age 39, averaging 10.4 points, 8.5 assists and 1.4 steals per night while leading the Spurs into postseason contention. Speculation has started that he might return for at least another year, and his teammates support that idea.
“The way he takes care of his body and approaches the game every day, it’s going to help a lot of us, a lot of our young guys to mold them into the players that they need to be,” Julian Champagnie said. “Just watching him take care of his body, his preparation day in, day out, how he knows everybody on the (scouting report), he’s a pro, a pro’s pro and we appreciate him for everything.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
The Spurs’ medical team watched Victor Wembanyama test out his sore lower back Friday night before deciding to have him sit out a second straight game, Orsborn states in a separate story. There’s optimism that both Wembanyama and Devin Vassell may be able to return on Sunday, but Paul said the team has to learn how to take care of business no matter who’s available. “Obviously it’s been a tough stretch for us right now, different bodies in and out,” he said. “But that’s why we have this next man up mentality. It’s really hard to win in this league. Winning one game is really hard, so you definitely want to get back on the winning train just so you don’t forget what that feels like.”
Champagnie set career highs on Friday by scoring 30 points and making six three-pointers, Orsborn notes. The third-year small forward has become a regular part of the rotation this season and is averaging a career-best 12.6 PPG. “I’m just trying to do my job,” he said. “Some games are going to like that, and then some games are going to be five points. But I’m just going out there and playing hard, doing all the little things, doing what I can to help the team win. Just taking my shots, taking my opportunities while I have them.”
Interim coach Mitch Johnson didn’t want to use Wembanyama’s absence as an excuse after his team allowed Sacramento to score 140 points, Orsborn adds in another piece. Johnson called it “unacceptable” that the Spurs have given up at least 30 points in each of the last eight quarters.