For the first time in his 18-year NBA career, Chris Paul came off the bench on Sunday night. Before the Warriors’ eventual win against the Rockets, the point guard had started 1,365 consecutive games including the playoffs.
Paul was in the starting lineup for his first two games of the season with Golden State while Draymond Green was nursing a sprained ankle. In those two games, Paul led the team with 21 assists and scored 24 points.
However, Green returned from injury against Houston, and Paul was relegated to coming off the bench. He embraced the role and performed well, tallying eight points and seven assists in 27 minutes of action. Green, who was on a minutes restriction, had four points, five rebounds and five assists in his 21 minutes on the floor.
Paul’s 1,365-game streak is an NBA record dating to 1982, when the league began tracking games started.
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr commended the 38-year-old veteran for his sacrifice.
Steve Kerr on Chris Paul’s acceptance to come off the bench: “It’s massive. Massive…When a vet, an All-Star shows that kind of sacrifice, it sets the tone.” pic.twitter.com/fzeS95uZ3Y
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 30, 2023
“It’s massive the way Chris has embraced everything here in the first month since he’s been with us,” Kerr said.
