Chris Paul is a lock for the Hall of Fame, but not everyone agrees he’s a top-10 all-time point guard. On a recent episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins made his stance loud and clear: CP3 may be great, but he falls short of the elite tier.
“CP3 is a top-15 greatest point guard of all time, but I do not have him in my top 10,” Perkins said. “I don’t have CP3 ranked above Russell Westbrook.”
Perkins’ reasoning comes down to accolades, specifically, championships and MVPs. Despite his reputation as one of the smartest and most skilled floor generals in NBA history, Paul’s lack of major hardware continues to hold him back in legacy debates.
“When it comes down to rankings, you have to check those boxes, and you gotta have those accolades,” Perkins continued. “And when I say accolades, I mean championships and MVPs. But CP3 doesn’t have one MVP.”
With career averages of 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game on 47.0% shooting, Chris Paul is one of the league’s All-Time great point guards, but the jury is still out on how he stacks up against other Hall of Famers, such as Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson. According to Perkins, Paul ranks (at most) 11th place, even behind other ringless legends like Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, and John Stockton.
At 6’0″, Paul is known for being an elite floor general and playmaker on the court. During the prime of his career, he was routinely in MVP conversations for his impact offensively, which rivaled some of the top players in the game.
Unfortunately, there’s still another major flaw in Paul’s legacy: his playoff record. To date, he’s only made one NBA Finals appearance (with the Phoenix Suns), and he’s yet to make it back since being defeated in 2021. Throughout his career, injuries, toxicity, and other distractions have gotten in the way and prevented Paul from reaching his championship goals.
This summer, as an unrestricted free agent, Paul had the choice to either retire and accept his career as-is or return for one last run. Ultimately, Paul chose the Clippers for nostalgia’s sake, but it also gives him his best chance to win a title before his basketball story is all said and done.
While Paul will have a minor spot in the rotation, his leadership and impact off the bench and in the locker room will make a noticeable impact for the Clippers. He’ll help teammates like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Bradley Beal maximize their game while maintaining the championship culture every successful team has.
In the end, Perkins’ comments reflect a growing sentiment in NBA media circles: accolades shape legacy more than ever. And in that context, Chris Paul may continue to be left on the outside looking in when it comes to all-time top 10 point guard lists. Whether you value rings or intangibles, the Paul vs. Westbrook debate is far from settled—and likely won’t be until both players hang it up for good.
