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Chris Paul owns zero NBA Championship rings. Despite a brilliant career yet to conclude, Paul still needs to capitalize on his success and win his first NBA Championship. With a career spanning since the 2005-06 NBA season, Paul's window for winning an NBA Championship ring is closing.
Beyond his lack of NBA Championship success, Chris Paul remains one of NBA history's most outstanding point guards. Besides being one of the league's best-ever playmakers, Paul is one of the NBA's all-time steals leaders. While he lacks the ultimate prize of an NBA Championship ring, Paul remains one of the NBA's greatest players.
Name: Christopher Emmanuel Paul
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6-0 (175 cm)
Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
School: Wake Forest
Draft: New Orleans Hornets (4th Pick, 4th Overall, 2005)
Season | Record | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG%/FGM | 3P%/3PM |
2020-21 | 51-21 | 117.2 | 111.3 | 115.3 | 42.9 | 26.9 | 7.2 | 4.3 | .490/43.3 | .378/13.1 |
League Rank | 2nd (West) | 5th | 9th | 7th | 23rd | 3rd | 19th | 25th | 2nd/2nd | 7th/13th |
The 2020-21 NBA season was Chris Paul's best chance at winning an NBA Championship. After being traded from Oklahoma City to Phoenix in exchange for a package surrounding Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul had one of his most participated seasons and led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. While he eventually failed to earn his first NBA Championship ring, his and the Suns' performance is still worth recognizing.
Chris Paul was excellent through the 2020-21 NBA season, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game on 49.9% shooting from the field and 39.5% from three. He, along with the efforts of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, led the Suns to second in the West while earning another NBA All-Star appearance.
Paul's Suns went 12-4 through the Western Conference Playoffs, eventually eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. Chris Paul stepped up through the post-season, averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 assists on 49.7% from the field and 44.6% from three. Despite his brilliant performance with the Suns, Paul once again fell short.
Chris Paul has zero NBA Championship rings, so he is at the bottom of the barrel regarding comparisons with other champions. Plenty of NBA Champions are less decorated throughout their career, but Paul ultimately needs more achievement to rank him among the best.
Player | No. of Rings | Years Won | Team(s) |
Bill Russell | 11 | 1957, 1959-69 | Boston Celtics |
Sam Jones | 10 | 1959-66, 1968-69 | Boston Celtics |
Robert Horry | 7 | 1994-95, 2000-2002, 2005, 2007 | Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 | 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 | Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers |
Michael Jordan | 6 | 1991-93, 1996-98 | Chicago Bulls |
Scottie Pippen | 6 | 1991-93, 1996-98 | Chicago Bulls |
Magic Johnson | 5 | 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987-88 | Los Angeles Lakers |
Tim Duncan | 5 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 | San Antonio Spurs |
Kobe Bryant | 5 | 2000-02, 2009-10 | Los Angeles Lakers |
LeBron James | 4 | 2012-13, 2016, 2020 | Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers |
Chris Paul | 0 | n/a | New Orleans Hornets, LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors |
Throughout Chris Paul's 18-year NBA career, he reached the NBA Finals once. It took until his 16th professional season to reach the NBA Finals, despite his years of success. While Paul's statistical accomplishments place him among some of the best in NBA history, he hasn't gotten to the Finals nearly as often as the company he keeps.
Player | Finals Appearances | Year | Team(s) |
Bill Russell | 12 | 1957, 1959-66, 1968-69 | Boston Celtics |
Sam Jones | 11 | 1958-1966, 1968-1969 | Boston Celtics |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 10 | 1971, 1974, 1980, 1982-1989 | Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers |
LeBron James | 10 | 2007, 2011-2014, 2015-2018, 2020 | Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers |
Tom Heinsohn | 9 | 1957-1965 | Boston Celtics |
Magic Johnson | 9 | 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 | Los Angeles Lakers |
Jerry West | 9 | 1962-1966, 1968-1970 | Los Angeles Lakers |
Frank Ramsey | 8 | 1957-1964 | Boston Celtics |
K. C. Jones | 8 | 1959-1966 | Boston Celtics |
John Havlicek | 8 | 1963-1966, 1968-1969, 1974, 1976 | Boston Celtics |
Bob Cousy | 7 | 1957-1963 | Boston Celtics |
Robert Horry | 7 | 1994-1995, 2000-2002, 2005-2007 | Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs |
Kobe Bryant | 7 | 2000-2002 2004, 2008-2010 | Los Angeles Lakers |
James Worthy | 6 | 1984-1985, 1987-1989, 1991 | Los Angeles Lakers |
Michael Jordan | 6 | 1991-1993, 1996-1998 | Chicago Bulls |
Scottie Pippen | 6 | 1991-1993, 1996-1998 | Chicago Bulls |
Shaquille O'Neal | 6 | 1995, 2000-2002, 2004, 2006 | Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat |
Tim Duncan | 6 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014 | San Antonio Spurs |
Tony Parker | 5 | 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014 | San Antonio Spurs |
Larry Bird | 5 | 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 | Boston Celtics |
Chris Paul | 1 | 2021 | Phoenix Suns |
Compared to Stephen Curry's four, Chris Paul has zero NBA Championship rings. Despite Curry having a more successful post-season career, Chris Paul has a 9-9 record against Curry in the playoffs.
Now a member of the Golden State Warriors, Paul's chances at winning an NBA Championship have sky-rocketed. Currently contributing to one of NBA history's greatest dynasties, if Paul can reach the playoffs, the Warriors have proven that they can accomplish anything.
Considering he owns zero championships, Chris Paul's resume pales in comparison to some of his peers. Paul's championship count isn't competitive against fellow stars of his generation like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Dirk Nowitzki. For now, his name sits among Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, and Charles Barkley as players who achieved a tremendous amount individually, but a championship eluded them.
Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
Email: [email protected]
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