Chris Paul

Position: Guard
Height: 6’0” (183 cm)
Weight: 183 lbs. (79 kg)
NBA Team: Los Angeles Clippers
School: Wake Forest University

USA BASKETBALL NOTES

• Member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team that finished 8-0 and won the gold medal. Started in all eight games and averaged 8.3 ppg., and added 2.5 rpg., a team second best 5.1 apg., a team leading 2.5 spg., and shot 51.0 percent from the field and 46.4 percent (13-28) from 3-point.
• Member of the 2012 USA National Team that finished pre-Olympic tour with a 5-0 record. Started in four of five games and averaged 4.6 ppg., and added 2.0 rpg., tied for the team lead with 4.0 apg., a team best 2.6 spg., and shot 44.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point.
• Gold Medals: 2012 Olympic Games, 2008 Olympic Games, 2004 World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Tournament (U20).
• Silver Medal: 2002 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival.
• Bronze Medal: 2006 FIBA World Championship.
• Honors: Named 2005 USA Basketball Co-Male Athlete of the Year.
• Named a finalist for the 2012 USA Men’s Olympic Team on Jan. 16, 2012.
• Named a member of the 2010-12 USA Men’s National Team on Feb. 10, 2010.
• Member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team that finished 8-0 and won the gold medal.
• Member of the 2008 USA Senior National Team that finished pre-Olympic tour with a 5-0 record.
• Was unable to participate in the 2007 USA Senior National Team training camp after having surgery on his left foot.
• Helped lead USA to an 8-1 record and bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.
• Played in nine games and started six in the 2006 World Championship, averaged at the World Championship 7.0 ppg., 3.4 rpg., a team leading 4.9 apg., a team (tied) leading 1.9 spg., in 23.7 mpg.
• Set a new U.S. record for assists in the World Championships with 44 assists and a 4.9 apg. average. His 17 steals ranks tied for sixth for steals in a World Championship.
• Finished the 2006 FIBA World Championship ranked first in assists-to-turnovers ratio, third in assists and tied for ninth in steals.
• Named on August 17 a member of the 2006 USA World Championship Team.
• Helped lead the USA Senior National Team to a 5-0 record during its pre-World Championship tour averaging 6.2 ppg. and a team high 4.2 apg.
• Named on March 5, 2006, to the 2006-2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team.
• Member of the 2004 USA World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Team that went 5-0 and captured the gold medal, qualifying the United States for the 2005 FIBA World Championship For Young Men.
• Started all four games (the contest versus Venezuela was won by forfeit) and averaged a USA fourth best 10.5 ppg. and passed off for a team high 31 assists.
• Ranked first among all tournament participants for assists (7.75 apg.) and 3-point field goal percentage (.636), second for assist-to-turnover ratio (3.44), tied for 13th for steals (1.8 spg.) and ranked 23rd for scoring.
• Scored a high of 19 points and recorded eight assists versus Canada in the semifinal game and passed off for a USA World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Team record 13 assists against Puerto Rico.
• Tallied four points, three rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals as the USA defeated the Canadian Young Men 88-54 in an exhibition contest.
• Selected a member of the 2002 USA Youth Development Festival East Team that finished 3-2 and earned the silver medal, averaged 9.0 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 3.6 apg. and snatched a Festival third best 14 steals.

NBA HONORS

• Named All-NBA first team in 2008 and 2012.
• Named All-NBA second team in 2009.
• Named All-NBA third team in 2011.
• Finished second in voting for the 2007-08 NBA MVP award.
• Voted NBA All-Defensive first team in 2009 and 2012.
• Voted NBA All-Defensive second team in 2008 and 2011.
• Four-time NBA All-Star (2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012).
• Voted a starter for the 2012 Western Conference All-Star Team. and finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists in 31 minutes.
• Voted a starter for the 2011 NBA All-Star Western Conference Team, recorded 10 points, tied for a Western Conference team high with 7 assists, recorded a game high 5 steals in 28 minutes.
• Named a reserve member of the 2009 NBA All-Star Western Conference Team, recorded 14 points, a game best 14 assists and 3 steals in 29 minutes.
• Named a reserve member of the 2008 NBA All-Star Western Conference Team, recorded 16 points, a game best 14 assists and 4 steals in 27 minutes.
• Competed in the 2008 Skills Challenge.
• Named 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year, receiving 124 of 125 first-place votes, the largest percentage of votes since David Robinson received 100 percent in 1989-90.
• Was the only unanimous NBA All-Rookie first team selection.
• Played for the Sophomore squad at the 2007 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star Weekend and recorded 16 points, and Rookie-Sophomore Game records of 17 assists and 9 steals.
• Played on the Rookie Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge Game and tallied 8 points, 11 assists and 5 steals.
• Competed in the 2006 Skills Challenge.
• Became the fifth rookie to win the Rookie of the Month award for every month of his rookie season, joining LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

NBA MILESTONES

• Led the NBA in 2007-08 in assists (11.6 apg) and steals (2.7 spg), becoming the first player since John Stockton in 1992 to lead the NBA in both categories the same season.
• Led the NBA in total steals as a rookie to become just the second rookie to accomplish the feat (Brevin Knight).
• Set seven Hornets rookie records including most assists in a game and season, highest free throw percentage, most free throws made and attempted in a game, and most steals in a game and season.

NBA NOTES

• Completed in 2011-12 his seventh NBA season, first with Los Angeles Clippers.
• Has played in and started in 485 games in his career and averaged 18.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 9.8 apg., 2.4 spg., while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from 3-point and 86.1 percent from the foul line.
• Has appeared in 34 career postseason games, holds career playoff averages of 20.5 ppg, 10.1 apg., 5.2 rpg. and 2.3 spg.
• Boasts of career highs of 43 points (2 times), 12 rebounds (3 times), 21 assists (L.A. Lakers 11/06/07) and 9 steals (Dallas 02/20/08).
• Started and played in 60 games in 2011-12, averaged 36.4 minutes, 19.8 ppg., 9.1 apg., 3.5 rpg., 2.4 spg., shot 47.8 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from 3-point and 86.1 percent from the foul line.
• Finished 2011-12 ranked 1st in the NBA in steals per games, 2nd in assists per turnover (4.38), 3rd in assists per game, 5th in efficiency ranking, 13th in points per game, 13th in minutes per game, 15th in free throws made, 16th in double- doubles (28), 21st in free throws attempted, 24th in field goals made, 25th in field goals attempted, 25th in free throw percentage, 38th in field goal percentage.
• Among all rookies in 2005-06, ranked 1st in scoring, assists, steals, minutes played per game, double-doubles (21), efficiency ranking, and was 4th in rebounding, 14th in free throw percentage and 27th in 3-point percentage.
• Was the only NBA rookie in 2005-06 to record a triple-double, and he recorded two.
• Selected by New Orleans as the 4th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft.

COLLEGIATE NOTES

• In two seasons at Wake Forest University, team tallied a 48-16 record for a 75.0 winning percentage and made two NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the 2004 Sweet Sixteen.
• Compiled in two seasons 948 points (15.0 ppg.), 245 rebounds (3.9 rpg.), 395 assists (6.3 apg.), 160 steals (2.5 spg.), while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 47.0 percent from 3-point and 83.8 percent from the foul line.
• Ranks second among Wake Forest's all-time career leaders for 3-point shooting percentage (.469), 7th in assists and steals.
• Consensus 2004-05 All-American First Team after averaging 15.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 6.6 apg., while shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 47.4 percent from 3-point and 83.4 percent from the foul line.
• Named 2005 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) First Team and All-ACC Defensive Team.
• Named 2004 National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News, College Insider.com, was Dick Vitale's 2004 Diaper Dandy of the Year and listed on Basketball Times' National All-Freshman first team.
• Named 2004 ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Rookie Team selection, 2004 ACC All-Defensive Team, 2004 All-ACC Third Team, 2004 ACC All-Tournament Second Team.
• Owns the all-time ACC record for freshman season steals with 84, surpassing Duke's Jason (Jay) Williams' 81 in 1999-00.
• One of Wake's top freshmen in history, lists No. 1 among all-time Wake freshmen season leaders in steals, assists (183), 3-point percentage (.465) and free throw percentage (.843) and ranks 3rd in both points (460) and scoring average (14.8 ppg.).
• Ranks 3rd among all-time Wake single-season steals leaders, 4th in 3-point field goal percentage and 5th in assists.
• Started all 31 games played as a freshman, helping Wake Forest to the 2004 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and a 21-10 record and averaged a team second best 14.8 ppg. and team highs of 5.9 apg. and 2.7 spg.
• Ranked eighth among 2003-04 NCAA leaders in steals per game and tied for 22nd for assists per game.

PERSONAL NOTES

• Born May 6, 1985 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• Son of Charles and Robin Paul.
• Brother C.J. played basketball at University of South Carolina-Spartanburg.
• As a freshman at Wake Forest, carried with him to every game a copy of his grandfather's obituary. Paul's grandfather was tragically killed during his senior year of high school. On the day of the funeral, Paul went out and scored 61 points -- one for every year of his grandfather's life.
• Attended West Forsyth High School (N.C.) and averaged 30.8 ppg., 8.0 apg., 6.0 spg. and 5.0 rpg. as a senior in leading his team to a 27-3 record and the Class 4A Eastern Regional finals.
• Passed out 10 assists in the 2003 McDonald's High School All-American Game.
• Honored with the 2003 McDonald's High School All-American Game Sportsmanship Award.
• Named a 2003 Parade Magazine All-American, 2003 All-USA second team selection by the USA Today, named the 2003 North Carolina High School Player of the Year by The Associated Press and 2003 Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer.
  

• 2012 OLY - 2012 U.S. Olympic Games Team, London, England (the USA finished 8-0 and won the gold medal).
  
• 2012 MNT - 2012 USA Basketball National Team (the USA compiled a 5-0 record).
  
• 2008 OLY - 2008 U.S. Olympic Games Team, Beijing, China (the USA finished 8-0 and won the gold medal).
  
• 2008 SNT - 2008 USA Basketball Senior National Team (the USA compiled a 5-0 record).
  
• 2006 WC - 2006 USA World Championship Team (the USA finished 8-1 and won the bronze medal).
  
• 2006 SNT - 2006 USA Basketball Senior National Team (the USA compiled a 5-0 record).
  
• 2004 YMQ - 2004 USA World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Team, Halifax, Canada (the USA finished 5-0 and won the gold medal).
  
• 2004 YMQX - 2004 USA World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Team exhibition game, Saint John, Canada (the USA defeated Canada 88-54).
  
• 2002 YDF-E - 2002 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival East Team, Colorado Springs, Colorado (East Team finished 3-2 and earned the silver medal).