"He'll go down as one of the best point guards to ever play the game" - Mike D'Antoni on CP3's legacy

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With the confirmation that Chris Paul will officially bring his NBA career to a close after spending 21 years in the Association, after the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the conversation has naturally shifted toward determining his rightful place in the all-time rankings.

Although the absence of an NBA championship will inevitably influence his historical positioning, Paul’s former coach, Mike D’Antoni, has no hesitation in proclaiming that CP3 will definitely be a top 10 player in his position, as someone who has left an impression on every franchise he has represented.

CP3 deserves the highest honor

During his first 10 seasons in the NBA, Paul established himself as a statistical force, leading the league in assists on four occasions and in steals six times while earning seven All-NBA and All-Defensive Team nods. Those accolades demonstrate the exceptional playmaking and perimeter defense Chris exhibited during his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Hornets.

Then, when Paul was expected to use his experience to help different teams make strides, he led the Houston Rockets reach the Western Conference Finals, helped Shai Gilgeous Alexander gain confidence during his brief stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder, mentored the Phoenix Suns rto each the NBA Finals in 2021, and most recently, influenced young core of Stephon Castle, Victor Wembanyama & Co. in their development years in San Antonio.

This, according to D’Antoni, carries a significance far greater than anything a stat sheet could display. The value Paul has brought, and continues to bring, is evident in the way he has even embraced a bench role without a single complaint for the Clippers. For Mike, that willingness, apart from Chris’ impact during his prime, is what guarantees the highest possible honor for the 12-time All-Star.

“I think he’ll go down or should go down as one of the best point guards to ever play the game. He is one of the smartest players, studies the game — his jump shot from 15 feet, deadly. He could do it all, pick and roll, whatever you need,” Antoni said. “For me, as a coach, just let him go and make sure you open the floor for him. He was fantastic.”

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Paul deserves a better ending to his stellar career

Many fans today might have never witnessed the final chapters of old-school legends whose spectacular primes were followed by late-career seasons in which they served merely as veteran presences. That same reality is now something Paul himself is experiencing. Even though he still possesses the ability to orchestrate an offense, CP3’s role has diminished to the point where he attempts just over three field goals per game and rarely operates with the ball in his hands.

There is no debate that Paul will soon be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. However, the sight of him closing his career on a Clippers team positioned near the bottom of the Western Conference standings has been emotionally difficult for those who remember watching him fly across the court at his peak.

Nevertheless, for D’Antoni, he will always cherish their time coaching the “Point God,” as he well and truly knows that there won’t be many like him to follow in the league.

Related: "He has nothing to hang his head about" - LeBron James urges Chris Paul to savor every moment of his final NBA season

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.