When we talk about the best pure point guards to ever lace them up, the name Chris Paul usually pops up within the first five seconds. But for a certain generation of fans in Louisiana, he isn't just a "Point God" or a future Hall of Famer. He was a symbol of hope.
Honestly, the New Orleans Chris Paul era was one of the weirdest, most electric, and eventually heartbreaking stretches in NBA history. It started with a city underwater and ended with a trade veto that still makes Lakers fans want to throw their phones across the room.
The Post-Katrina Savior
The timing of Paul’s arrival was almost cinematic. He was drafted fourth overall in 2005, just months before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Because the arena was unusable and the city was in ruins, the team had to split time in Oklahoma City. Imagine being a 20-year-old rookie and having to represent a displaced city while playing home games in a different state.
Basically, he carried that weight effortlessly. He won Rookie of the Year in 2006, but it wasn't until the team fully returned to the Big Easy for the 2007-08 season that things got real. That year was magic. The Hornets won 56 games. Paul finished second in MVP voting to Kobe Bryant, though many people—myself included—will argue until they’re blue in the face that CP3 was the real MVP that year.
He averaged 21.1 points and a league-leading 11.6 assists. He was a defensive menace, too, leading the league in steals. The "Crescent City Connection" with Tyson Chandler and David West made the Hornets the most exciting ticket in town. They pushed the defending champion Spurs to seven games in the second round.
💡 You might also like: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Then, the wheels started falling off.
The Veto: Why New Orleans Chris Paul Didn't Become a Laker
If you want to start a fight in a sports bar, just mention "Basketball Reasons."
By 2011, the Hornets were a mess behind the scenes. The owner, George Shinn, was broke and couldn't sell the team, so the NBA actually bought the franchise. Think about how insane that is. The league owned one of its own teams.
Chris Paul wanted out. He saw the writing on the wall. David West had torn his ACL, and the front office was making questionable moves—like trading for Luther Head instead of going after bigger fish like Rip Hamilton.
📖 Related: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
On December 8, 2011, a massive three-team trade was finalized.
- Chris Paul was going to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Pau Gasol was headed to the Houston Rockets.
- The Hornets were getting back a package including Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, and Goran Dragic.
The news broke. Fans were stunned. Kobe and CP3 on the same team? It was over for the rest of the league.
But then, David Stern stepped in. Acting as the "owner" of the Hornets, he vetoed the trade. He claimed it was for "basketball reasons," arguing the Hornets weren't getting enough value back. In reality, small-market owners like Dan Gilbert were furious. They had just come off a lockout meant to parity the league, and here were the Lakers forming another superteam.
The deal died. Paul was eventually shipped to the Clippers for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and a draft pick. It changed the trajectory of the NBA forever.
👉 See also: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
The Legacy Left Behind
People in New Orleans still have complicated feelings about CP3. Some boo him because of his "dirty" playstyle or the way he draws fouls now. Others remember that he was the reason the NBA stayed in the city at all. Without that 2008 run, Tom Benson might never have bought the team to keep them from moving to Seattle or Kansas City.
You've got to respect the numbers. In 23 playoff games for the Hornets, Paul averaged 21.9 points and 11 assists. He was a monster.
What You Should Know Now
If you’re a fan looking back at this era, don't just look at the box scores. Look at the context.
- Check the "What Ifs": Look into the 2008 MVP race. Paul’s advanced stats (PER and Win Shares) actually eclipsed Kobe’s that year.
- The Anthony Davis Link: The trade veto indirectly led to the Hornets being bad enough to win the 2012 lottery. That’s how they got Anthony Davis. No veto, no AD in NOLA.
- Jersey Search: If you’re a collector, those 2000s teal pinstripe jerseys are some of the most sought-after vintage NBA gear right now.
The New Orleans Chris Paul era was a fever dream of elite playmaking and front-office drama. It’s a reminder that in the NBA, what happens in the boardroom is often just as impactful as what happens on the hardwood.
To truly understand CP3's impact, you should watch highlights of the 2008 playoff series against the Mavericks. He completely dismantled Jason Kidd, a fellow legend, and proved that a 6-foot guard could dominate the league through sheer IQ and will.