Winning is a major part of determining an NBA player’s legacy. More times than none, when championships enter the conversation, it helps solidify their impact in NBA history. For the past decade, LeBron James has reigned at the top of the NBA due to his impact on his teams. From Cleveland to Miami to Los Angeles, James has made the NBA Finals at least once in all of his tenures with different teams and brought a championship trophy to each city as well.
Outside of James’ winning impact, veteran point guard Chris Paul may not achieved the accolades as LeBron, but he's had a similar impact as a leader has elevated his team's chances of making the postseason.
Chris Paul's LeBron-esque Career Path (Sans Rings)
For many years, the narrative that surrounded Chris Paul sometimes painted him as a cancer in the locker room. Having many disputes with former teammates and coaches, some players were not fond of the way Paul handled situations. In reality, his mentality was to make sure his teammates were on the same page as him. He may have been brutal to his team, but Paul expected everyone to give 100 percent effort every night and play the right way.
Everywhere Chris Paul went, he turned a losing situation into a thriving one. There's no outright comparison between Paul and LeBron James, who could arguably be the greatest to ever play. But you can't deny that the winning impact that follows them throughout every stop of their NBA journey.
New Orleans Hornets
Paul has contributed to transitioning NBA franchises into contenders. For instance, he was a huge factor in the New Orleans Hornets becoming a playoff team in the late 2000s. As Paul delivered a monster MVP season in 2008, New Orleans clinched the second seed in the West and advanced past the first round. New Orleans would make the postseason in 2009 and 2011 before Paul eventually wanted out of New Orleans the following offseason.
Los Angeles Clippers
As Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, his presence automatically transitioned the franchise from league-wide joke into contenders. The Clippers were always looked upon as the sad little brother to the Lakers. But as the Clippers began a winning culture, the Lakers began their rebuild process.
The Clippers won 50+ games each season from 2012-2017. Led by Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers became a fan favorite and a destination for players to join. Despite locker room issues, Paul and the Clippers gave max effort every night. Paul’s tenure in Los Angeles resulted in three trips to the Western Conference Semifinals in six seasons.
Houston Rockets
Houston needed a floor general next to James Harden. As Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017, he and Harden went on a tear in their first season. The Rockets finished the season with a 65-17 record. The team dominated on both ends and carried the momentum into the postseason.
The Rockets were one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals and toppling the mighty Golden State Warriors. But as Paul went down with a hamstring injury after an impressive game five, the Warriors would win games six and seven to advance to their fourth straight finals. The Rockets would match up against the Warriors again in the following seasons. Once again, the team fell to Golden State in six games.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Paul’s season in Oklahoma City was a re-invention season. After the Rockets turmoil that caused Paul to be traded, insiders questioned whether Paul could carry a team at a high level. Going into the season, the Thunder had a projected 0.2 percent chance of making the playoffs. Luckily, the young roster was led by Paul and his historic MVP-caliber season.
Paul averaged 17.6 points on the year, but the impressive part of his game was the ability to come through in clutch moments for his team. Paul led the league in clutch points with 3.5 points in crunch time situations and produced in big moments to elevate the Thunder’s chances of improving.
The Thunder entered the postseason as the fifth seed in the West. They wound up facing Paul’s former team, the Houston Rockets in the first round. Despite the team coming in as underdogs, Oklahoma City continued to compete until the final buzzer of game seven.
This season with the Phoenix Suns
After Paul’s fantastic season in Oklahoma City, other franchises began to build confidence in him again. Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the 2020 offseason, pairing alongside Devin Booker. With Chris Paul at the helm, the Suns clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 11 seasons.
Just as LeBron James continues to carve out a legacy of championships in the twilight of his career, Paul is doing the same at his advanced age, providing a winning culture to another destitute franchise.
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