Chris Paul has passed Jason Kidd (2,091) as the second-leading assist leader of all time. Kidd was a master on the floor with the ball in his hands in his day. Passing him is no small feat. Sure, the honor is prestigious enough, but who you pass matters because those guys paved the way. There's a large respect factor there, and etching your name alongside players like Kidd is a massive achievement.
Paul's moment came off a pass to Victor Wembanyama, who drilled a 3-pointer in the second quarter. That's fitting since assist number 12,000 came on an alley-oop to the Alien. The Pelicans game has yet to conclude, so he'll continue racking up assists tonight and going forward as he puts some separation between himself and Kidd.
When Paul reached 12,000 assists against the Mavericks three weeks ago, it reminded everyone how strong of a floor general the Point God has been throughout his career. It's easy to forget that since he's older and no longer plays at the same level he once did. But CP3 can still distribute the ball and run an offense, and it's an honor to see him reach a new milestone in a silver and black uniform.
If you don't think Chris Paul is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a top-100 player of all time, you probably also believe the Earth is flat (it's not). CP3 has been the architect of some of the NBA's most successful offenses, and he's always been a sneaky good defender. Even in his 19th season, he comes up with opportune steals for San Antonio to take advantage of.
Once he reached the status of elder statesman, he was still impacting winning. Paul's made the playoffs almost every year of his career. The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder can attest to his impact. Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are both recipients of Paul's knowledge, and the way their games grew as a result was undeniable.
The Spurs are the latest to benefit from Paul's excellence, and the way he looks, they may not be the last. He's only on a one-year deal, so anything can happen after the year has concluded. The Wake Forest alumni could find himself in a trade before the deadline, but he still has so much to teach the guys.
He's made unforgettable memories in his 19-year career. Unfortunately, the Spurs have been on the wrong end of some of them, but you have to respect his game—especially since he reps Alamo City now. Spurs fans have had complicated feelings about CP3, but there's something poetic about a happy ending to the rivalry.
John Stockton holds the NBA record for assists with 15,806. A testament to his prowess on the hardwood in the 80s and 90s. The pick-and-roll combo between him and his partner was a problem the league struggled to contain for years, and the result is a record that may stand the test of time forever.
Thankfully, Paul doesn't have to break that record to garner the respect he deserves. He took his respect year after year, and when he has his name called for a Hall of Fame one day, Spurs fans everywhere will be cheering.