Phoenix Suns point god Chris Paul moved up to third in the all-time assist list during the team’s 112-100 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, putting together an all-around performance with 14 points, 18 dimes, and seven boards, passing Mark Jackson (10,334) and former Suns’ MVP Steve Nash (10,335).
“It means a lot, man. I’m grateful and I thank god for this opportunity,” Paul said per the Arizona Republic.
“I say it all the time, not only to be on the team and still be in the league but to be playing. You know you don’t take that for granted. … But to be third, man, and still be playing, I’m grateful for it and still have a ways to go.”
Going into the matchup against the Pelicans, Paul was fifth all-time on the list, just six dimes behind Jackson and seven behind Nash. Paul pushed past Jackson at the end of the first quarter, giving a pass to Devin Booker, who then hit a 27-foot three-pointer.
Paul propelled past Nash with 1:34 left in the second from a dish to Jae Crowder, who scored a three-pointer from the right-wing. At 36-years-old and playing in his 16th season in the League, Paul has more time behind him than ahead. However, he has ways to go before catching up to Jason Kidd (12,091) and John Stockton (15,806) on the all-time assists list.
“When I first came into the League and I seen that John Stockton, I was like, ‘I’m gonna get it.’ That shipped sailed. That shipped sailed a while ago when I started missing all them games,” Paul told the Arizona Republic.
Still, this is just the latest milestone that CP3 has achieved so far this season. Just last month, he became the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in a win against the Lakers.
The Suns are now 3-3 and will play the Rockets on Thursday.
