2008-09 Season in Review: Chris Paul
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com

June 22, 2009

Hornets.com continues its look back at the 2008-09 season with player-by-player analysis of the team:


What we expected: The 6-foot point guard was coming off a breakthrough season in which he emerged as a bona fide superstar in the NBA. During that 2007-08 campaign, Paul made his initial All-Star Game appearance and went on to finish as a runner-up in the league’s MVP voting, behind only Kobe Bryant. It was difficult to see where CP3 could improve greatly upon his banner year of 2007-08, given his all-around ability in so many facets of the game.

What happened: If he hadn’t already done so, Paul cemented his status as one of the elite players in the league, again placing in the top five of the NBA’s MVP vote. Although the Hornets won fewer games and were unable to repeat as Southwest Division champions, Paul arguably had an even better year individually. He increased his scoring average again, leading New Orleans at 22.8 points per game. He also improved in rebounding (5.5 per game), steals (2.8 per game), field-goal percentage (50.3) and free-throw percentage (86.8), while ranking first in the NBA in assists (11.0 per game). A year after making the All-Star Game for the first time, Paul returned to the midseason showcase, but this time as a starter. Among many memorable highlights en route to that All-Star appearance, Paul established the NBA record for most consecutive games with at least one steal, breaking the mark on Dec. 17 in a home win vs. San Antonio.

Best game: There were several attractive options here, but it’s difficult to argue much when a player approaches a statistical achievement that has only been done four times in NBA history. On Jan. 14 in Dallas, CP3 finished within striking distance of the fifth quadruple-double in the 60-plus years of the league. In a 104-97 victory at the Mavericks, Paul racked up 33 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and seven steals. The only previous players to record a quadruple-double are Nate Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. Robertson is the only player to ever accomplish it with steals being one of the four categories. The most recent instance of a quadruple-double was by Robinson, 15 years ago.

The future: Last July, Paul and the Hornets agreed to a three-year contract extension that kicks in next season and runs through the 2011-12 campaign. It also includes a fourth-year player option in 2012-13. Upon signing the extension, Paul said, “It's been a long time coming. It's a very humbling experience... I truly love this city, everything about it." Byron Scott has mentioned during the current offseason that he wants to begin cutting into Paul’s minutes, also a goal last season but one that did not get accomplished. The 175-pounder averaged 38.5 minutes during the regular season, eighth-highest in the NBA. Paul also is expected to experience a less hectic summer in 2009, with no USA Basketball commitments for the first time since 2005.