Chris Paul made NBA history in Year 20 by starting all 82 games of the regular season, becoming the first player to ever achieve this milestone so deep into his career. Previously, John Stockton held the record, starting all 82 games in his 19th and final season. Paul, who turns 40 soon, is one of only three players to have a season with 82 games at this age—Stockton did it in his 39th and 40th seasons, and Michael Jordan did so in his final season at age 39, starting 67 games.
Reflecting on his achievement, Paul admitted it felt surreal. “It’s crazy,” he said, sharing that he didn’t focus much on the milestone during the season but noted, “It’s Game 82 now.” He completed the season without missing a game, a remarkable feat in itself.
Paul was one of six players who made all 82 starts this season. The others included Mikal Bridges (New York), Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota), Jalen Green (Houston), Jarrett Allen (Cleveland), and Paul’s teammate Harrison Barnes from San Antonio. With Paul, Barnes, and Julian Champagnie, the Spurs became the first team since the 2017-18 Timberwolves to have three players appear in all 82 games.
For Barnes, it was his 304th consecutive game, marking the first time since Bryn Forbes and Patty Mills in the 2018-19 season that the Spurs had two players start all 82 games. Paul noted how challenging it is to reach this milestone, mentioning his respect for players like Harrison and Mikal, who consistently show up without missing games.
Bridges, in particular, set a record of his own, playing in his 556th consecutive regular-season game on Sunday. He hasn’t missed a game since high school, including all his college games and NBA playoffs. His dedication earned praise from his coach, Tom Thibodeau, who called Bridges’ durability a “tribute” to his hard work. Bridges briefly extended his streak on Sunday by playing the first six seconds of the game before subbing out.
Meanwhile, Allen also reached the 82-start mark by playing 41 seconds in Cleveland’s final game. Some players, like Jonas Valanciunas of Sacramento, played 81 games due to being inactive for a single game because of a trade.
Chris Paul is now the 11th player in NBA history to play 20 seasons, with LeBron James expected to break the record next year by reaching 23 seasons. Despite his long career, Paul remains passionate about the game, saying there’s still plenty left in the tank. He plans to evaluate his options over the summer, but for now, his love for the sport continues to drive him.
Paul’s incredible achievement and longevity in the league highlight his resilience and dedication to the game, solidifying his place as one of the NBA’s greatest players.
