History of Chris Paul in Timeline
Christopher Emmanuel Paul, known as CP3, is a highly decorated American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Widely considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, his accolades include NBA Rookie of the Year, an All-Star Game MVP award, two Olympic gold medals, and multiple league leadings in assists and steals. Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, and 9-time All-Defensive team member. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Beyond his on-court achievements, Paul served as president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021 and holds lucrative endorsement deals, making him one of the world's highest-paid athletes.
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Chris Paul is expected to play more minutes for the Clippers. Fantasy basketball players should consider Paul for their DFS lineups. Increased playing time could lead to better performance and higher fantasy scores.
May 6, 1985: Christopher Emmanuel Paul Born
On May 6, 1985, Christopher Emmanuel Paul, later known as "CP3" and "the Point God", was born. He is an American professional basketball player.
1993: First appearance
Chris Paul advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career and the Suns' first appearance since 1993.
2004: Played against his brother C.J.
In 2004, Chris Paul played against his brother C.J. when Wake Forest had a preseason exhibition with USC Upstate.
January 15, 2005: Victory Over North Carolina
On January 15, 2005, Chris Paul registered 26 points and eight assists in a victory over rival North Carolina.
April 15, 2005: Paul Declares for NBA Draft
On April 15, 2005, Chris Paul announced he would be hiring an agent and turning professional, declaring for the NBA draft.
2005: NBA Rookie of the Year Award
In 2005, Chris Paul was named NBA Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies in total points, assists, steals, and double-doubles, with averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
2005: Drafted by the New Orleans Hornets
In 2005, Chris Paul was selected as the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets.
2006: Debut for the United States National Team
In 2006, Chris Paul made his debut for the United States national team at the FIBA World Championship in Japan. He ended the competition with 44 assists, the most in the tournament, and he helped team USA win the bronze medal.
2007: Rookie Challenge Records
At the 2007 All-Star Weekend, Chris Paul set new Rookie Challenge records with 17 assists and 9 steals.
2007: First NBA All-Star Game Selection
In 2007, Chris Paul was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game, playing in front of his home fans in New Orleans.
December 17, 2008: NBA Record for Consecutive Games with a Steal
On December 17, 2008, Chris Paul set the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal at 106.
2008: All-NBA and All-Defensive Honors; Led NBA in Steals
In 2008, Chris Paul earned All-NBA honors, All-Defensive honors and also led the NBA in steals.
2008: Made All-NBA Team
In 2008, Chris Paul earned a spot in his first All-NBA team.
2008: Finished Second in MVP Voting
In 2008, Chris Paul finished second in NBA Most Valuable Player Award voting while playing for the New Orleans Hornets.
2008: Revealed Christian Faith
In 2008, Chris Paul revealed that he is a Christian and attends church every Sunday whenever possible.
2008: Olympic Gold Medal with Team USA
In 2008, during the Olympics in Beijing, Chris Paul played a key role off the bench, scoring 13 points in a gold medal game victory against Spain. Team USA finished the competition with a perfect 8–0 record.
January 26, 2009: Near Quadruple-Double Against 76ers
On January 26, 2009, Chris Paul nearly recorded a quadruple-double against the Philadelphia 76ers, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, and 7 steals.
2009: Hornets Record Falls
After Paul's individual accomplishments, in 2009, the New Orleans' record fell from the year before and they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.
2009: All-NBA and All-Defensive Honors; Led NBA in Steals and Assists
In 2009, Chris Paul earned All-NBA honors, All-Defensive honors, and also led the NBA in steals and assists.
February 2010: Knee Injury
In early February 2010, Chris Paul tore cartilage in his left knee and was sidelined for over a month by surgery, forcing him to miss the All-Star Game.
2010: First Western Conference Finals appearance
Chris Paul's 37 points on a 74 percent shooting led the Suns to a 4–0 series sweep over the Nuggets for their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2010.
2010: Concussion Injury
In 2010, Chris Paul suffered a concussion on March 6 after colliding with Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions and being carried off the court on a stretcher.
2010: Named All-Star
In 2010, Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire were the last Suns duo named All-Stars before Chris Paul and Devin Booker were named All-Stars in 2022.
September 10, 2011: Marriage to Jada Crawley
On September 10, 2011, Chris Paul married his college sweetheart, Jada Crawley.
November 11, 2011: Appearance on Family Feud
On November 11, 2011, Chris Paul appeared with his family on Family Feud.
December 8, 2011: Trade to Lakers Agreed To, Then Nullified
On December 8, 2011, the Hornets agreed to a three-team trade sending Chris Paul to the Lakers, however the NBA nullified the deal.
2011: Trade to Lakers Voided and Traded to Clippers
During the 2011 offseason, a trade to send Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers was voided by the NBA. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
2011: All-NBA and All-Defensive Honors; Led NBA in Steals
In 2011, Chris Paul earned All-NBA honors, All-Defensive honors, and also led the NBA in steals.
2012: Purchase of a Mansion in Bel Air
In 2012, Chris Paul bought a Mediterranean-style mansion in Bel Air from Avril Lavigne for $8.5 million.
2012: Second Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, at the London Olympics, Chris Paul was promoted to the starting point guard position, averaging 8.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, helping Team USA achieve another gold medal and an undefeated tournament.
2012: Trade to Clippers Completed
In December 2011, the trade was completed to send Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he announced he would opt into the final year of his contract and remain in Los Angeles for at least two more seasons. The Minnesota Timberwolves' unprotected first-round pick in the 2012 draft, was used to draft Austin Rivers.
March 2, 2013: Wake Forest Retires Paul's Jersey
On March 2, 2013, Wake Forest retired Chris Paul's jersey, honoring his contributions to the university's basketball program.
August 21, 2013: Elected President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
On August 21, 2013, Chris Paul was selected as the president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), after having served on the executive committee for four years.
2013: NBA All-Star Game MVP Award
At the 2013 All-Star Game, Chris Paul led the West to victory with a 20-point and 15-assist performance, earning his first NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.
2013: Chris Paul Becomes President of the National Basketball Players Association
In 2013, Chris Paul began his service as the president of the National Basketball Players Association.
2013: Ranked Third-Best Player in the League
In 2013, Chris Paul was ranked as the third-best player in the league by ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
2013: Second in the League in Assisted Three-Pointers
In 2013, Chris Paul was second in the league in assisted three-pointers.
2013: Re-signed with the Clippers
Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Chris Paul re-signed with the Clippers for five years on a contract worth approximately $107 million.
2014: Led NBA in Steals and Assists
In 2014, Chris Paul led the NBA in steals and assists.
2014: Key Figure in Banning Clippers Owner Donald Sterling
In 2014, Chris Paul played a key role in the banning of Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the NBA following racist remarks made by Sterling.
2014: Played All 82 Games
In 2014–15, Chris Paul played in all 82 games for the first time in his career.
2015: Led the League in Shooting Percentage from the Right Elbow
In 2015, Chris Paul led the league in shooting percentage from the right elbow.
2015: Led Clippers on Winning Streak
In January of the 2015–16 season, Chris Paul led the Clippers on a ten-game winning streak despite missing Griffin and Jordan at various points due to injury.
June 28, 2017: Traded to the Houston Rockets
On June 28, 2017, Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets from the Los Angeles Clippers for a package of players, a future first-round pick, and cash considerations. The Clippers traded Paul because they were unwilling to offer him the contract extension he was seeking. Paul was interested in playing alongside James Harden, opting into the final year of his contract to facilitate the trade.
2017: Debuted for the Rockets
In 2017, Chris Paul debuted for the Houston Rockets in their season-opening win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors. He scored only four points on 2-for-9 shooting and sat on the bench down the stretch. It was later revealed that he was playing through a knee injury, and he subsequently missed the next 14 games.
2017: All-Defensive honors
In 2017, Chris Paul earned All-Defensive honors.
2017: Traded to the Houston Rockets
In 2017, Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets.
January 26, 2018: Season-High 38 Points
On January 26, 2018, Chris Paul scored a season-high 38 points in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans while playing for the Houston Rockets.
July 8, 2018: Signed Four-Year Contract Extension with Rockets
On July 8, 2018, Chris Paul signed a four-year, $160 million maximum contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
2018: Purchased Stake in Winston-Salem Dash
In 2018, Chris Paul purchased a minority ownership stake in the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor league baseball team located in his hometown.
July 16, 2019: Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder
On July 16, 2019, Chris Paul was traded by the Houston Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook, along with draft picks and swaps.
2019: Became a Vegan and Brand Ambassador for Beyond Meat
In 2019, Chris Paul became a vegan and a brand ambassador for Beyond Meat.
2019: Traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder
In 2019, Chris Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a package for Russell Westbrook.
November 16, 2020: Traded to Phoenix Suns
On November 16, 2020, Chris Paul was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Phoenix Suns along with Abdel Nader.
2020: Traded to the Phoenix Suns
In 2020, Chris Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
February 1, 2021: Season-High Points
On February 1, 2021, Chris Paul scored a season-high 34 points for the Phoenix Suns in a 109–108 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
August 7, 2021: Signed Contract Extension with Suns
On August 7, 2021, Chris Paul signed a four-year contract extension with the Phoenix Suns worth up to $120 million.
2021: Inducted into Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
In 2021, Chris Paul was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.
2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Chris Paul was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
2021: Reached NBA Finals for the First Time
In 2021, while playing for the Phoenix Suns, Chris Paul reached the NBA Finals for the first time in his career.
January 24, 2022: Scored 27 Points
On January 24, 2022, Chris Paul scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out 14 assists in a 115–109 win against the Utah Jazz.
October 23, 2022: Joined 11,000 Assists Club
On October 23, 2022, Chris Paul recorded seven points, eight rebounds and eleven assists in an 112–95 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He joined John Stockton and Jason Kidd as the only players in NBA history with 11,000 assists.
December 2022: Graduation from Winston-Salem State University
In December 2022, Chris Paul graduated from Winston-Salem State University with his bachelor's degree in communications.
2022: Named Reserve for the NBA All-Star Game
In 2022, Before the game, Chris Paul was named a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
2022: All-NBA Honors and Led NBA in Assists; Named One of the NBA's 75 Greatest Players
In 2022, Chris Paul earned All-NBA honors and led the NBA in assists. He was also named as the 30th-greatest player in NBA history by The Athletic in commemoration of the NBA's 75th Anniversary.
2022: Named All-Star
In 2022, Devin Booker and Chris Paul were the first Suns duo since Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire in 2010 to be named All-Stars.
January 22, 2023: Returned to Lineup After Injury
On January 22, 2023, Chris Paul returned to the lineup after missing the previous seven games with a hip injury. He had 22 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Suns to an 112–110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
June 2023: Publication of Memoir "Sixty One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court"
In June 2023, Chris Paul published a memoir, titled Sixty One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court. The book recalls Paul's childhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, his relationship with his grandfather Nathaniel "Papa" Jones and his family, his high school and Wake Forest University basketball careers, and stories from his professional NBA career.
June 24, 2023: Traded to Washington Wizards
On June 24, 2023, Chris Paul was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards along with Landry Shamet, four first-round pick swaps, and six second-round draft picks for Bradley Beal, Jordan Goodwin, and Isaiah Todd.
January 5, 2024: Fractured Left Hand
On January 5, 2024, Chris Paul fractured his left hand in the third quarter of a 113–109 win over the Detroit Pistons, which required surgery, but was expected to return later during the season.
June 30, 2024: Waived and Became Free Agent
On June 30, 2024, Chris Paul was waived and became a free agent.
July 7, 2024: Signed with the San Antonio Spurs
On July 7, 2024, Chris Paul signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs. His decision to sign with the team stemmed from his desire to receive playing time rather than chasing a championship.
December 8, 2024: Passed Kidd for Second All-Time in Career Assists
On December 8, 2024, Chris Paul passed Jason Kidd for second all-time in career assists.
2024: Signed with the Spurs
In 2024, Chris Paul signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
February 20, 2025: Passed Kidd for Second All-Time in Career Steals
On February 20, 2025, Chris Paul passed Jason Kidd for second all-time in career steals.
July 21, 2025: Returned to Los Angeles Clippers
On July 21, 2025, Chris Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers for his 21st season in the NBA.
2025: Returned to the Clippers
In 2025, Chris Paul returned to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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