3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Counting Stats: 19.5 points, 10.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds
PER: 26.31
WS: 12.7
VORP: 6.0
When it’s time to reflect upon one of the longest lasting “true point guards” in the NBA, look no further than Chris Paul. For 11 professional seasons, Paul has showcased everyone his consistency on the floor, averaging no less than 16 points, seven assists and 1.7 steals per game in a season.
The 9-time All-Star produced noteworthy numbers again in 2016, finishing No. 1 in the league in assist rate (33.7) and turnover rate (8.9). Throughout his NBA tenure, one of the underrated aspects in Paul’s game is his steadiness as a shooter. Not once has Paul’s eFG percentage dipped below 45 percent, and true shooting percentage below 53 percent.
While the league is suddenly shifting into position-less basketball, Paul’s true position has never wavered since being drafted out of Wake Forest in 2005. Last season, Paul was one of four point guards to average a double-double, and for the third straight year, he put together a season that saw him average 19 points and 10 assists a game.
Despite the criticism of him never reaching the Conference Finals in his career – albeit it’s a worthy statement to make. Don’t let Paul’s on-court consistency diminish what is one of the more stable careers in the game today.
Next: No. 2