The 2024-25 NBA regular season has come to an end and it features a few surprising stats. A good number of players played in all 82 games, 11 to be exact. Three of the 11 players were from the San Antonio Spurs, a team that had two players over 30 years old to play the entire campaign. Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes did not miss a game for the Spurs, together with their teammate Julian Champagnie.
What’s even more deserving of applause is the fact that Paul started in all 82 contests. The last time he achieved such a feat was during the 2014-15 season when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers. On Sunday, CP3 stepped onto the floor and led the Spurs to a 125-118 victory against the Toronto Raptors. The future Hall of Famer had 15 points, six assists and four steals to end the year on a high note.
Barnes ended with 18 points and five rebounds on 40 percent shooting from the field.
Following the game, Paul had a moment of reflection on what he achieved in his 20th season.
“It’s crazy,” Paul said. “I was talking to my wife about this. When you’re sort of in it, you’re not really thinking about it. It’s like, ‘OK, it’s Game 30. OK, it’s Game 40-something. It’s game such and such.’
The 82 game club
Chris Paul
Jalen Green
Mikal Bridges
Jarrett Allen
Harrison Barnes
Jaden McDaniels
Julian Champagnie
Bub Carrington
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Malik Beasley
Buddy Hield— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 13, 2025
He made the list on Sunday, along with Mikal Bridges (New York Knicks), Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons) and Buddy Hield (Golden State Warriors).
“Year 20, this is only the second time in my career playing 82 games,” Paul said. “And also playing as long as I have, I think I know how hard it is. That’s why I have so much respect for Harrison, who is doing this for the third year in a row. And Mikal, who was my teammate, he never misses a game.”
San Antonio Spurs forward commends Paul’s professionalism for playing all 82 games
In an era where load management is heavily talked about, Chris Paul’s gesture to play all regular season games speaks volumes. Additionally, the Spurs are 13th in the Western Conference with a 34-48 record. Leading up to the final game of the season, San Antonio had no chance to be in the Play-In Tournament to fight for a spot in the postseason.
That could be a reason for Paul not to play against Toronto. However, he opted to be with his team and play. His teammate, forward Jeremy Sochan, had high praise for the veteran star for dedicating his time playing for the team.
“He could be in flipping, I don’t know, Hawaii, doing nothing. And he’s here in San Antonio, Texas, busting his a** 82 f***ing games, just doing his thing. And I think that’s what I’ve noticed, just the passion that he has,” Sochan said about Paul via Tom Orsborn.
Jeremy Sochan on Chris Paul playing in his 82nd game of the season today:
“He could be in flipping, I don’t know, Hawaii, doing nothing. And he’s here in San Antonio, Texas, busting his a** 82 f***ing games, just doing his thing. And I think that’s what I’ve noticed, just the… pic.twitter.com/QrCnxKLVZj
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 14, 2025
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
