Player of the Week: Chris Paul — The Point God Still Got It

Let's be real, NBN fans. We all know the feeling when you think you've seen everything in this league, and then some vet comes out and reminds you exactly why they call him "The Point God." This week, that distinction belongs to Chris Paul of the Atlanta Hawks, who has been absolutely torching defenses and making fantasy managers everywhere look like genius drafters.

Coming off a week where the Hawks picked up two crucial wins, Paul's stat line reads like something from a video game set to "Rookie difficulty": 30.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. Yes, you read that correctly. We're talking about a point guard who is scoring like a go-to scorer while distributing like... well, like Chris Paul.

So, Just How Good Is CP3 Right Now?

Let's put this in perspective. The league average sits at a modest 9.35 PPG. Paul is dropping nearly three times that number. His 30.9 points per game places him fifth in the league among scorers, but here's the kicker — nobody in the top five is doing it with his combination of playmaking and rebounding. While Guy Rodgers is lighting it up at 34.6 PPG for Portland, he's averaging only 5.6 rebounds. Nate "Tiny" Archibald is posting similar scoring numbers, but his assist numbers (8.2 APG) pale in comparison to Paul's near-double-digit distribution.

That's not just scoring. That's dominance across all categories. Paul's True Shooting percentage of 0.589 is elite, suggesting he's not just jacking up shots — he's being surgical. When you watch him play, you're watching efficiency married to volume, which is exactly what championship teams are built on.

Hawks Flying High

The Hawks' recent run hasn't been accidental. Atlanta has been climbing the standings, and Paul's veteran leadership has been the catalyst. When your floor general is dropping nearly 10 dimes per night while also being your second-leading scorer, opposing coaches have to pick their poison. Double-team him? He'll find the open man. Play him one-on-one? Watch him cook.

And let's talk about that rebounding. 7.0 boards per game from a 6'0" guard is genuinely absurd. Paul plays bigger than his size, always has. But in this league, with the rebounding leader being Nate Thurmond at 15.4 RPG (and that's from a forward/center), Paul's contribution on the glass is the type of hidden stat that wins close games.

Who Does He Remind You Of?

If you're watching Chris Paul and getting vibes of Steve Nash, John Stockton, or even a more aggressive Isiah Thomas, you're not wrong. He's got Nash's craftiness, Stockton's defensive instincts, and the competitive fire of Zeke. But here's the spicy take: Paul might actually be better than all of them at this stage of his career. His scoring is ahead of where Nash was at this age, his assists are Stockton-adjacent, and his team success speaks for itself.

The comparison that keeps coming to mind? A younger Jason Kidd with a scorer's mentality. Kidd was always the best passer on any court he touched, but Paul takes it a step further with his ability to take over games offensively when needed. He's the complete package.

What to Watch For

Here's where it gets interesting. The Hawks are trending upward, and if Paul can keep this pace — or dare we say, even bump it up slightly — we're looking at an MVP trajectory. He's only 0.1 assists away from a triple-double average, which would make him just the third player in league history to average one. The race between Paul and Nate Thurmond for rebounds from the guard spot is equally compelling. Nobody saw that coming.

Keep an eye on Paul's minutes and health. The experience factor (9 years in the league) means he knows how to manage a season. But if he stays healthy and the Hawks keep winning? This might be the most complete individual season we've seen in the NBN.

One thing's for certain: when Chris Paul has the ball, you better get out of the way. The Point God has claimed his throne, and the rest of the league is just living in his kingdom.

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