New Orleans Pelicans All-Time Team: Starting Point Guard

Mar 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Charles (@CLaRoccaJr): Chris Paul

I will cut right to the chase on this one, Chris Paul was  the first superstar that the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans had.

Baron Davis was great and was a star in his own right but he only played two and a half seasons and was injured for a good portion of them. Chris Paul was drafted by New Orleans, won the Rookie of the Year award, became an All-Star and an All-NBA First Team player, and finished second in MVP voting.  

Now enough about the basketball side of things for a second, Chris Paul loved New Orleans. He embraced the community, lived in the city and was a spokesperson for basketball to stay in the city after Hurricane Katrina. The situation with him leaving is completely understandable.  For years the Hornets failed to build on their 2008 season’s success, they made no major additions to spearhead the team into championship contention and the stability of the franchise was in disarray.

Pelican fans we should not chastise Chris Paul for leaving but applaud him for giving New Orleans basketball its first real identity. For six years Paul gave New Orleans basketball a hero, he would led the team to the playoffs three times, including the best season in franchise history where they won 56 games and lost in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.

All this without including that CP3 represented the franchise in four All-Star games, has a First-Team All-NBA, a  Second-Team All-NBA and a Third-Team All-NBA during his time in NOLA. Chris Paul’s on-court and off-court contributions to the city of New Orleans make him a staple in any list when discussing the best players in franchise history.

The argument could even be made that as of RIGHT NOW he is the best basketball player ever to wear a New Orleans jersey.          

Next: Rick's Choice