NBA Player Power Rankings: Hey Now, You’re An All-Star

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Feb 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) yells in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)

When Damian Lillard was snubbed from the All-Star Game, many thought that he was more deserving of a spot than Chris Paul.

That is almost ludicrous.

Chris Paul suffers from the same syndrome as LeBron James. Both are great athletes and supreme basketball talents that we’ve gotten used to over the years. The more we watch of them, the more we are conditioned to accept what they do on a nightly basis as “average.” So when they start having seasons that are being considered poor by their standards, in actual fact, the numbers show that they are still one of the best in the league.

Take Paul, for example. He is averaging 17.7 points per game, 9.7 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Those numbers may not be exceptional on their own, but even in a down year, CP is third in the league in assists per game, ninth in points per game for point guards, and fifth in the league for steals per game.

He may not be performing to his lofty standards, but even in one of his less statistically productive seasons, Chris Paul is more than a deserving All-Star.

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