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CHRIS PAUL NAMED TO FIRST TEAM ALL-NBAPaul becomes first Hornet to achieve honor May 8, 2008 The NBA announced today that New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul was selected to the 2007-08 All-NBA First Team. Paul is the first Hornet in franchise history to receive the honor. “It is a true honor to be selected to the All-NBA First Team and to be recognized in the same company as the other four players who made the first team,” Paul said. “I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and coaches who have helped me along the way.” Paul is joined by unanimous selection and NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It is great for Chris to be recognized after having one of the best regular seasons for a point guard in NBA history,” Head Coach Byron Scott said. “He is the leader of our team and he showed it every night.” The Hornets have had two second-team selections (Larry Johnson 92-93, Glen Rice 96-97) and five third-team honorees (Anthony Mason 96-97, Glen Rice 97-98, Eddie Jones 99-00, Jamal Mashburn 02-03, Baron Davis 03-04) in franchise history. Paul earns his first All-NBA selection after leading the New Orleans Hornets to their first Southwest Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Paul paced the league in assists (11.6 apg) and steals (2.7 spg), becoming the first player since John Stockton in 1992 to lead the NBA in both categories the same season. He also averaged a team-high 21.1 points per game. This season, Paul became just the second player since Steve Nash (during the 2006-07 season) to average at least 11.5 assists for a season in the last 13 years. Paul was the seventh player (first since Magic Johnson in 1986-87) to score over 20 points a game while also leading the league in assists and was the first player in NBA history to lead the league in assists and steals while scoring 20 or more points per game. Paul is the first player ever to average at least 21 points, 11 assists and 2.7 steals per game during the regular season. Paul re-wrote seven franchise records, as well as holding the NBA season single-game high for steals in a game with nine. Paul’s record-breaking season has continued into the playoffs as he scored 35 points and handed out 10 assists in his first NBA playoff game, becoming first player in NBA history to have at least 35 points and at least 10 assists in his playoff debut. Only three other players in NBA history scored 35 or more points in their playoff debut and won the game: Wilt Chamberlain (PHI Warriors) in 1960 (35 points), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (MIL) in 1970 (36 points) and Gary Brokaw (MIL) in 1976 (36 points). This season also marked Paul’s first appearance in the NBA All-Star game as he had 16 points and 14 assists, marking the first time a player has had 14+ assists in an All-Star Game since Jason Kidd (2000). In addition, Paul is just the fourth player in All-Star Game history to reach 14+ points and 14+ assists in the game (Magic Johnson-four times, Isiah Thomas-twice and Oscar Roberston-as a rookie in 1961). David West and Tyson Chandler also received votes towards earning a spot on the All-NBA squads, as West got 24 votes and Chandler had 18, respectively. The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 127 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Below are the results of the voting for the 2007-08 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses:
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Allen Iverson, Denver, 116; Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 89; Marcus Camby, Denver, 59; Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 38; Baron Davis, Golden State, 32; David West, New Orleans, 24; Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 22; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 18; Antawn Jamison, Washington, 15; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 14; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 11; Joe Johnson, Atlanta 8; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 7; Caron Butler, Washington, 5; Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix, 5; Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, 5; Kevin Martin, Sacramento, 4; Ray Allen, Boston, 4; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 3; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 2; Josh Howard, Dallas, 2; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 2; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1; Brandon Roy, Portland, 1; Michael Redd, Milwaukee, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 1.
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