2 weeks Ago
Chris Paul's stats comfort the San Antonio Spurs in an otherwise uneasy dilemma: Gregg Popovich is out for an undisclosed period due to an ailment. With Popovich sidelined for the Spurs' upcoming road trip, Paul's leadership on the court is more imperative to their success than usual. Regarding leadership, one stat alludes to a vintage Paul performance for the 2024-25 season, which will also assist the Spurs.
© Scott Wachter-Imagn Images San Antonio's signing of Paul has paid dividends six games into its 2024-25 campaign. Making a legitimate comeback from a second-unit point guard to a starter, Paul's assists earned him a spot in the top four of the NBA. Paul recorded 52 assists, tying with Brooklyn Nets point guard and former protege of the all-time point guard Dennis Schroder for fourth in the NBA.
Last season, Paul landed 28th in total assists as the backup point guard for the Golden State Warriors. Although Paul's sacrifice made for a commendable season, particularly for a team harboring players with legitimate animosity toward the future Hall of Fame point guard, it didn't feel right for Paul to play second fiddle to another point guard, at least not off the bench. In San Antonio, Paul has a chance to land in the higher echelon in assists and lead the Victor Wembanyama-featured team to significant victories, most recently beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-103 on Saturday.
Paul racked up 15 points on 3-6 shooting from 3, and more importantly, dished 13 dimes against the reigning Western Conference Finals runner-up. Related: Is Coach Gregg Popovich OK? Although it's premature to expect Paul to post double-double stat lines consistently, the Spurs need the 39-year-old point guard to display his seemingly never-expiring court vision..
