# @ethicalhoopers on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdOfEGCADRB
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70280726-ethicalhoopers-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e74c1da6ba.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-13T11:45:02.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Olalekan Coker (@Olalekan.Coker.jr) — https://gondola.cc/Olalekan.Coker.jr

## Caption

2018 Chris Paul was one of the closest versions we ever saw to CP3 finally getting over the hump 🥶🔥

In his first season with Houston, Chris Paul averaged **18.6 PPG, 7.9 APG, 5.4 RPG and 1.7 SPG** while shooting **46% from the field, 38% from three and 91.9% from the free-throw line**. He gave the Rockets another elite shot creator next to James Harden and helped Houston finish with a franchise-best **65-17 record**, the best record in the NBA.

And when the playoffs came around, CP3 took his game to another level.

Through 15 playoff games, Paul put up **21.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.8 APG and 2.0 SPG** on **45.9% shooting**, helping Houston reach the Western Conference Finals and go toe-to-toe with the Kevin Durant-era Warriors.

Houston went up **3-2** in that series and was just ONE win away from knocking off Golden State and reaching the NBA Finals.

Then came the hamstring injury.

CP3 missed Games 6 and 7, Houston lost both, and one of the biggest “what ifs” in NBA history was born.

People remember Lob City Chris Paul, New Orleans CP3 and even the Point God years in Phoenix, but **2018 Houston CP3 deserves way more respect.** He could still control an entire game as a passer, hunt mismatches in isolation, knock down the midrange, hit threes, defend at a high level and close games when Houston needed him.

At 32 years old, Chris Paul was still proving exactly why they called him the **Point God.** 🎯

If that hamstring never gives out… how differently are we talking about Chris Paul’s legacy today? 👀

#ChrisPaul #nba #basketball #HoustonRockets #hoops

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,511
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 37

## Tags

hoops, nba, houstonrockets, basketball, chrispaul

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