While Chris Paul’s 2025-26 season might not have gone according to plan, there’s no denying the veteran star’s impact on the NBA court. This includes his time with the New Orleans Pelicans and his impact on the Oklahoma City Thunder in just one season.
However, despite Paul’s efforts, he was never able to win a championship. And according to New York Knicks icon Carmelo Anthony, there was a time when everyone desperately wanted him to.
Carmelo Anthony Reflects on Chris Paul’s 2018 Playoff Run Against Warriors
Although the NBA has been around since the 1940s, very few teams have managed to establish themselves as dynasties. And while there was no debate about the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, few expected Stephen Curry’s arrival. By the time Curry reached the 2018 playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were already crowned as the newest NBA dynasty.
In a recent conversation on his show “7PM in Brooklyn”, Anthony took some time to discuss Paul and the famous 2018 NBA Finals. But before Curry faced the Cleveland Cavaliers and won his third title, he played against Paul and his Houston Rockets in the Conference Finals. It was Paul’s first-ever Conference Finals appearance, making it a significant milestone for the now 12-time NBA All-Star.
According to Anthony, everyone was rooting for Paul to bring home the trophy. “At that moment we’re rooting for CP3 to win a championship. His OPs was watching him rooting for him to win a championship… They were tired of trying to figure out how to beat Steph Curry. They (Front offices) wanted the game to shift in a new direction,” Anthony explained.
He highlighted how insane Curry’s dominance was, the team refusing to back down. “That direction of the Warriors was f*cking the game up. It was great for them but they f*cked everybody else up…. There’s only 6 organizations everyone wants to see lose in the history of the league. Lakers, Bulls, Warriors, Boston, Miami, Detroit.”
The Warriors won 4-3. Paul averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 5 games. Having said that, Paul also suffered a hamstring strain during the series and was ruled out for Game 6. Of course, losing a key player like Paul significantly affected the Rockets’ chances of winning.
“I hate it for him, above all,” Mike D’Antoni, the Rockets coach back then, said. “He’s practically won us the last two games. But great opportunity for other guys and we have plenty to choose from and we’ll be ready.”
Following his stint with the Rockets, Paul also played for the Phoenix Suns, the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Los Angeles Clippers. After confirming that he’ll be retiring in 2026, the Clippers made a controversial announcement of sending Paul home. The decision drew in ample criticism, with fans accusing the Clippers of not respecting a team player like Paul.
Playing for 21 seasons, Paul has a career average of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in over 1,300 games. He also won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2005-06 season.
