5 Greatest achievements of Chris Paul's career

After 16 long years, Chris Paul will be playing in his first NBA Finals. The veteran point guard is considered to be one of the greatest point guards of all time, but the elusive Larry O'Brien trophy is still missing from his stacked cabinet.

At 36, Paul is one of the oldest players in the league. In a career that began in 2005, the Phoenix Suns star has managed to achieve some phenomenal feats.

5 remarkable feats Chris Paul has pulled off in his career

Chris Paul recently became just the third player to score 40 points without committing a single turnover in the playoffs. He managed to do so in the closeout game against the LA Clippers, dropping 41 points and leading his team to the NBA finals.

40-point, no-turnover performances in conference finals (via @Stathead):Michael JordanShaquille O’Neal Chris Paul

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 1, 2021

However, this is just one of many of his ridiculous accomplishments. On that note, let's take a look at his career's 5 biggest feats

#5 Leading OKC Thunder to the playoffs in the 2019-20 season

Chris Paul duels James Harden

In 2019, Chris Paul joined a relatively inexperienced OKC Thunder team, which few would have given a chance of qualifying for the postseason. The team's core comprised of a talented but inexperienced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, back-up point guard Dennis Schroder and serviceable center Steven Adams.

But against all odds, Chris Paul helped the OKC Thunder to a 44-28 record. They finished 5th in a tough Western Conference, setting up a playoff clash against the Houston Rockets. Paul and the Thunder battled it hard until the end of the series, forcing the stacked Rockets team to play seven games.

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#4 Making the playoffs every year since 2011

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Six

Chris Paul has managed to make the playoffs every year since 2011, effectively ensuring that he is one of the few players who have been able to play in the postseason for eleven consecutive seasons. He has also made the playoffs with five different franchises - again, a feat which deserves a special mention.

Perk believes Chris Paul's Finals run is one of the most impressive ever 👀(via @KendrickPerkins) pic.twitter.com/OGqsdZujau

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2021

However, all these playoff runs have ended in disappointment so far. Reaching the finals with the Suns is the farthest Chris Paul has reached in the postseason, and he will be looking to cap this brilliant run with his first ring.

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#3 Being top-five in steals on NBA all-time list

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Six

Only four players - John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton - have registered more steals than Chris Paul in his career. This is testament to the gritty, intelligent defense Paul has played throughout his NBA career, despite standing at a modest 6 feet.

Chris Paul's reading of the game and anticipation skills are off the charts, which makes him one of the best defenders in the league at the point guard position. What's even more impressive is the fact that despite being the orchestrator of offense on every team he has been on, his level of defense has never gone down.

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#2 Leading the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA finals

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Three

The 2019-20 Phoenix Suns finished with a 34-38 record in the Western Conference, missing out on the playoffs. Few would have imagined the Suns would do one better and make the postseason, but landing Chris Paul in the 2020 offseason proved to be a masterstroke. Not only did Monty Williams' side make the playoffs, they did it in style, finishing only behind the Utah Jazz in the Conference.

Paul has had an incredible impact on the Phoenix Suns. He brought the mentality of a winner to the side and elevated the games of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. Booker might be the best player on the team, but Chris Paul is certainly the most important.

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#1 Being top-five in assists in NBA all-time list

Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets - Game Four

Chris Paul is known as the 'Point God' for a reason. Paul has amassed a staggering total of 10,275 assists in his career, and is in the top-five for all-time NBA assists. He has a long way to go to catch John Stockton, who is first on the list, but the Point God has ensured that he will stay in the top-five for years to come.

In an era where point guards concentrate more on their scoring than their playmaking, Chris Paul remains a pass-first player. His playmaking is still top-notch, and it won't be a surprise if he climbs the all-time assists ladder further before he calls it quits.

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