Chris Paul made his much-awaited San Antonio Spurs debut on Thursday, which resulted in a 120-109 loss against the Dallas Mavericks. It was a monumental moment for the “Point God” since he is entering his 20th NBA season.
The 12-time NBA All-Star recorded three points, seven rebounds, and eight assists while going 1-for-6 from the field in 29 minutes, with his lone field goal being a three-point shot in the third quarter.
According to BasketballNews.com, this marks his lowest point total in an opening game since recording only four points against the Golden State Warriors on October 17, 2017. However, the circumstances were different back then, as he is no longer with a championship-contending team this time around.
Paul struggled with his perimeter shot, but so did his teammates, as they shot 33.3 percent from three-point range (compared to 43.2 percent from the Dallas Mavericks, who were buoyed by Klay Thompson’s sizzling shooting display).
Victor Wembanyama also had a quiet night for the San Antonio Spurs, notching 17 points and nine rebounds while going 5-for-18 from the field in 28 minutes of action.
Chris Paul achieves different milestone in first game with the San Antonio Spurs
It wasn’t all bad for Chris Paul, as he hit a new record during his San Antonio Spurs debut. According to Jordan Howenstine of San Antonio Spurs PR, the five-time NBA assists leader tied LeBron James for having the most assists in a single game for a player beginning his 20th season in the league.
Credit: AP Photo
Paul was brought in by the team this summer not to drop 25+ points every night, but to be the team’s top playmaker with his ball handling and passing. He is also tasked with imparting his knowledge to youngsters such as Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, and Stephon Castle.
