Former Thunder star Chris Paul ranked No. 30 in NBA history

As we enter the sizzling summer months, we're approaching the point in the calendar year when the NBA takes a couple of months off. That allows for plenty of time to be perspective and reflect on what's happened in the past.

The Bleacher Report NBA staff took advantage of the downtime. They ranked the top 100 NBA players of all time. The extensive project had an all-hands-on-deck approach. They conjured up the votes and released a naturally controversial ranking.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's exclusion might be one of the biggest snubs, there were other players who represented the Oklahoma City Thunder among the 100 players. One is Chris Paul. He came in at No. 30 spot in the rankings.

Paul spent a sole season on the Thunder in 2019-20. He rejuvenated his career there. He earned an All-NBA honor and led OKC to the playoffs. He's played an eye-popping 20 seasons and hopes to have one more year left in him before retirement.

"Second on the all-time assists and steals list, Paul is still playing productive basketball nearly a full decade after his prime years," Bleacher Report wrote. "In 2024-25, he became the first player in his 20th season or later to start in all 82 of his team’s games."

The Thunder acquired Paul from the Houston Rockets in a trade that sent Russell Westbrook away for the future Hall-of-Famer and a package of draft picks. He helped mentor Gilgeous-Alexander as the two spent their first season together in OKC.

"Paul is best known for being the catalyst on the Lob City Clippers in the mid-2010s," Bleacher Report wrote. "He racked up five top-10 MVP finishes during that run, making first-team All-Defense six straight times."

Paul spent his best years on the Clippers. He's also had stops with the then-New Orleans Hornets, Thunder, Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. The 40-year-old has taken a step back in recent years as a bench player.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Former Thunder star Chris Paul ranked No. 30 in NBA history