Chris Paul is averaing 1.3 steals per game this season, his 20th in the NBA.
For the second time this season, Chris Paul will pass Jason Kidd for 2nd place on an NBA all-time list.
- On Dec. 8 vs. New Orleans, Paul dished out his 12,092nd career assist — finding Victor Wembanyama for a 3-pointer — to pass Kidd for 2nd place on the NBA’s all-time assists leaderboard.
- On Feb. 12 in Boston, Paul recorded his 2,684th career steal — matching his season-high with four swipes in the game — to tie Kidd for 2nd on the NBA’s all-time steals list.
- Tonight in San Antonio, Paul needs one steal to take sole possession of 2nd place when the Spurs host the Suns (9:30 ET, TNT).
Once Paul passes Kidd, the top three all-time in assists and steals will match with Utah Jazz legend John Stockton’s first on both leaderboards, followed by Paul, then Kidd — a trio among the best point guards in NBA history.
Playing in his 20th NBA season, Paul has led the NBA in steals six times (2007-08, ’08-09, ’10-11, ’11-12, ’12-13, ’13-14) and is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, including seven First-Team selections.
Paul matched Kidd’s career steals total while playing 67 fewer games. Paul is one of 17 players in NBA history to average at least two steals per game throughout their career — and one of only six to do so while playing in over 1,000 games.
The others on that list are Stockton, Michael Jordan, Maurice Cheeks, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen — all of whom are Hall of Famers.
When Paul takes the court on Thursday, he’ll do so against a Phoenix team he has collected 109 steals against in his career over 49 matchups. The Suns are one of 13 teams that Paul has at least 100 steals against and his 2.22 steals per game average against Phoenix is the sixth highest against any opponent.
After nearly a dozen years of the Stockton-Kidd top two in steals and assists, Paul is on the verge of completing his climb to No. 2 on both lists. While Stockton has a commanding lead for the top spot, Paul will continue to add to his numbers, making it more difficult for another player to enter the top two.
