50 Greatest NBA Players ever - 41 to 50 on our Best NBA Players list

#42 Chris Paul

New Orleans Hornets v Boston Celtics

Career Averages: 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.3 assists, 0.1 blocks per game

Shooting splits: 47.2% from the field, 37.2% from the 3-point line, 86.8% on free throws

Accolades: 9-time All-Star (2008-2016), 4-time All-NBA First Teamer (2008, 2012-2014), 3-time All-NBA Second Teamer (2009, 2015, 2016), All-NBA Third Teamer (2011), 7-time All-Defensive First Teamer (2009, 2012-2017), 2-time All-Defensive Second Teamer (2008, 2011), 2013 All-Star Game MVP, 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year

Records: 4-time assist leader ('07-08, '08-09, '13-14, '14-15), 6-time steals leader ('07-08, '08-09, 2011-2014)

In my view, Chris Paul is the most underappreciated player of this era. Think about this - how many people can rack up 6 straight All-Defensive First Team selections, pairing a couple of them with assist titles, and still not end up on people's list of top 5 players of the day and age?

For a considerable length of time, the Point God was the 3rd best player in basketball. This guy averages damn near 10 assists per game FOR HIS 13-YEAR CAREER, and holds the record for most steals title won over the course of an NBA career!

The likes of David West and DeAndre Jordan have Paul to thank for the All-Star game appearances they made - a testament to how he was not only a great player in his own right but also made his teammates considerably better.

Still going strong at the age of 33, CP3 balled out in the Western Conference Finals, grabbing the Rockets by the scruff of the neck and taking them to a 3-2 lead following a game when they were blown off the court by the Warriors at the Oracle Arena. If it weren't for a hamstring injury that couldn't have come at a worse timing, we might just be having conversations about a Finals MVP who finally got a well-deserved championship for 13 years par excellence.

Chris Paul may not be getting any younger, but I'll be damned if there's a player who understands the game better at a fundamental level and will age like fine wine like he shows all the signs of being able to do so in the near future.