Rowan Kavner

In this series, Clippers.com takes a look back at the 2015-16 season for each member of the Clippers’ roster and looks forward to the offseason, as well as what may be in store for next year. The first capsule this offseason is on point guard Chris Paul.

Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors

Key Numbers: 3.8

Paul’s assist-to turnover ratio, the best among all NBA players this season with at least 60 games under their belt. One of the most essential parts of Chris Paul’s game is his ability to command an offense and create without making mistakes. Paul’s constantly among the top players in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, and this year was no different. That ratio soared to 7.25 in his three and a half playoff games, the best mark among all point guards in the postseason.

Los Angeles Clippers v San Antonio Spurs

11

After starting the season ranked No. 16 all-time on the NBA’s assists leaderboard, Paul jumped five spots to No. 11, surpassing Bob Cousy, Tim Hardaway, Terry Porter, Lenny Wilkens and Maurice Cheeks along the way. Paul currently sits at 7,688 assists after finishing fourth in the NBA with 10 assists per game this season, marking his third straight year averaging a double-double.

Los Angeles Lakers v Los Angeles Clippers

19.5

Paul’s points per game this year, his most since his first season with the Clippers. In addition to his impressive assist numbers and finishing in the top three in steals per game, Paul also demonstrated he can score in droves when he wants to attack. While he’d prefer to set others up, the Clippers needed Paul to become an attacker and a scorer when Blake Griffin went down, and the Clippers’ point guard delivered with more than 21 points per game in both January and February.

Los Angeles Clippers v Portland Trail Blazers - Game Four

Season Synopsis:

Unfortunately for Paul and the Clippers, the lasting image for Paul’s season will be the star point guard grabbing at his hand and heading out of Game 4, immediately realizing a successful start to the postseason would be over in a flash. That was indeed the case, as a frustrated Paul went back to the locker room with a fractured hand that required surgery.

Paul was dominant in his start to the playoffs, hitting 10 shots in each of his first three games while scoring at least 25 points in each. He even had 16 points in 25 minutes of Game 4 before a freak injury getting his hand caught led to the grim news, which was a significant shot to a team that would soon also be without Griffin.

“Major, major blow,” Jamal Crawford said afterward. “I just feel bad for him personally, because I know how much he puts into the game and how much he gives himself for the team.”

Los Angeles Clippers v New Orleans Pelicans

It was still another stellar year for Paul, who finished on the All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive First Team, averaging 19.5 points and 10 assists per game, finishing in the top four in the league in assists per game, free-throw percentage, steals, assist-to-turnover ratio and assist percentage.

Los Angeles Clippers v Portland Trail Blazers

Highlight Moment:

Three games stand out in particular, as Paul nearly put together a 20-20 game with 21 points and 19 assists against the Trail Blazers in January, marking his most assists in a game since joining the Clippers and becoming the only player other than Russell Westbrook this season with a game recording at least 20 points and 19 assists.

But Paul does more than pass, as he showed with impressive scoring outings against the Mavericks in March, when Paul outscored Dallas by himself in the third quarter of a 109-90 win, and against the Kings in December, when he finished three points shy of his career high and two rebounds short of a triple-double with 13 assists, eight boards and a season-high 40 points in a 10-point win.

Portland Trail Blazers v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Five

Looking Forward:

A championship is the one thing Paul still has left to accomplish on his resume, and the one thing he desires most. Paul will have at least one more season to do that with the Clippers, as he’s under contract for 2016-17 and has a player option in 2017-18.

While Paul would’ve missed a large chunk of this year’s postseason with the injury, it was possible he’d be back late in the playoffs if the Clippers’ run went deep enough, so he should be healthy and ready to go for the 2016-17 season with the core group still under contract for at least another year.

Washington Wizards v Los Angeles Clippers

Despite the rise in young star point guards around the league, Paul remains one of the elite players at his position, making his eighth straight All-Star Game, where players at his position around the league recognized what the veteran’s still capable of doing. John Wall said the fact that he can make it so many consecutive years “means you’re doing something big in this league.”

Much of that has to do with a competitiveness that hasn’t fallen off, as Paul’s showing no signs of slowing down at 31 years old after 11 seasons in the league.

“Chris is one of the biggest competitors this game has ever seen,” Dwyane Wade added at All-Star Weekend. “He’s a great leader, obviously everyone knows that, but the guy has no weaknesses on the basketball floor. He can do everything.”

2015-16 Player Capsules Hub »