The list of NBA players who failed to win a title during their career is filled with some of the best players to ever step on the hardwood.
Charles Barkley became the “Round Mound of Rebound” and one of the most revolutionary figures in the sport. Karl Malone and John Stockton came to define the pick-and-roll while carrying a franchise in Utah. Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing also carried their respective franchises with the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, respectively.
None of them won a ring.
Attaching a championship to a resume can be a major determinant in terms of how players are remembered. It can even help put some players in a higher class when it comes to perception from the fans and the media.
But which modern player has the most to gain by winning a title?
The argument could certainly be made for former MVPs like Russell Westbrook and James Harden who, coincidentally, play for the same team. Perhaps winning a title would be seen as a separator for Carmelo Anthony, even in the latter stages of his career.
However, when it comes to championships and legacies, nobody has more at stake than Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul.
The basics
Paul is already one of the greatest players to play the position. He currently ranks seventh all-time in both steals and assists. In fact, Paul will almost assuredly move into the top five in both categories depending on how much longer he decides to play.
The “Point God” should also come very close to reaching the 20,000-point plateau. Do you know how many players have scored more than 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in their career? That would be none.
Paul also has the accolades: former Rookie of the Year (2005-06), ten-time All-Star, nine-time All-Defense. Not to mention, Paul has been named first-team All-NBA in four different seasons. He led the league in assists four times, and six times in steals.
The argument could be made Paul is the best point guard ever. Seriously. He has a higher career PER than Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson. Paul also has more win shares, granted he has played more games than both Thomas and Johnson.
But CP3 will never be regarded as the best point guard ever. In fact, he might not even be held in the same category of John Stockton or Gary Payton. Why?
Well, the playoff disappointments are numerous.
Postseason woes
Paul should not be blamed for some of the playoff losses he suffered in New Orleans. He carried those Hornets teams.
But Los Angeles is another story entirely.
The “Lob City” Clippers were consistently among the most talented teams in the NBA during Paul's L.A. tenure. But they are also one of the most underwhelming groups in league history.
Both Paul and Griffin suffered from injuries throughout their time in L.A. The Clippers never made it to the Western Conference Finals, and they lost in the first round on three separate occasions.
The worst collapse came during the 2014-15 campaign. The Clippers cleared a big hurdle when–thanks to Paul–they beat the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. They then cruised to a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets in the conference semifinals.
Los Angeles would lose Game 5, but things seemed to be wrapped up when the Clippers took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter of Game 6. Instead, the Rockets outscored the Clippers 40-15 in the final period to even the series in stunning fashion. Houston went on to win Game 7 before falling to the Golden State Warriors.
Paul's decision to sign with the Rockets in the summer of 2017 seemed to bring about new fortunes. He and Harden were suddenly the new team of repute in the West, and the most intimidating challenger to the Warriors.
Indeed, the Rockets met the Dubs in the conference finals, and they took a 3-2 series lead after winning Game 5. But Paul was injured in that critical win. He missed Game 6, which the Warriors won by 29 points.
Despite speculation CP3 might return for Game 7, he was forced to sit. The Rockets lost the game and the series after shooting a woeful 7-of-44 from beyond the arc. It was Paul's best opportunity to win a championship.
The future Hall of Famer should not necessarily be dinged for his team's playoff failures. After all, he has career averages of 20.9 points, 8.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 102 playoff games. Those are good numbers.
Still, it is hard not to be left wanting more when looking at Paul's NBA career.
Last hurrah?
Will CP3 ever capture that elusive title? It remains to be seen.
What he has done as the leader of the Thunder this season has been truly remarkable. While OKC is not the favorite to win the title, doing so would make the Thunder one of the most unlikely champions in NBA history. Naturally, that would go quite a long way in cementing Paul's legacy.
Perhaps Paul will have the opportunity to finish out his career with a bona fide contender. He just turned 35 in March and, given his savvy and shooting ability, could certainly hold on for a few more years.
In any case, there is no doubt the timeline is shrinking. Paul has limited time to achieve the ultimate team goal. Doing so would earn him a spot alongside guys like Magic and Isiah.
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