Look up Chris in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, Crissie and others. Unlike these names, however, it does not indicate the person's gender although it is much more common for males to have this name than it is for females.^[1]

It is the preferred form of the full name of such notable individuals as Chris Tucker and Chris Penn. To find an article about one of these people, see List of all pages beginning with "Chris".

The word is also a part of phrases, including Tropical Storm Chris, Ruth's Chris, and many more which refer to notable people, places, and things. For a list of these, see All pages with titles containing "chris".

References[link]

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle at the Docklands, 2005
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Henry Gayle
Born	(1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 32) Kingston, Jamaica
Nickname	Gayleforce,GayleStorm
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Batting style	Left-handed
Bowling style	Right arm offbreak
Role	All-Rounder
International information
National side	West Indies
Test debut (cap 232)	16 March 2000 v Zimbabwe
Last Test	5 December 2010 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 97)	11 September 1999 v India
Last ODI	23 March 2011 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.	45
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1998–2008, 2010 –	Jamaica (squad no. 333)
2005	Worcestershire
2008–2010	Kolkata Knight Riders
2009–2011	Western Warriors
2011–	Royal Challengers Bangalore
2011–	Sydney Thunder
2012–	Barisal Burners
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	91	228	166	294
Runs scored	6,373	8,087	12,294	10,526
Batting average	41.65	39.06	45.03	39.72
100s/50s	13/33	19/43	30/59	22/59
Top score	333	153*	333	153*
Balls bowled	6,857	6,936	12,247	9,074
Wickets	72	156	131	213
Bowling average	41.59	35.08	38.67	32.14
5 wickets in innings	2	1	2	1
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	5/34	5/46	5/34	5/46
Catches/stumpings	85/–	99/–	144/–	125/–
Source: Cricinfo, 27th May 2012

Christopher Henry "Chris" Gayle (born 21 September 1979) is a Jamaican cricketer who plays international cricket for the West Indies."Chris Gayle". http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51880.html.  He captained the West Indies' Test side from 2007 to 2010. He plays domestic cricket for Jamaica, and has also represented Worcestershire, the Western Warriors and the Kolkata Knight Riders. He is currently signed with Royal Challenger Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Gayle represents the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and the Barisal Burners in the Bangladesh Premier League. He is one of only four players who have scored two triple centuries at Test level: 317 against South Africa in 2005, and 333 against Sri Lanka in 2010.

Career[link]

Chris Gayle played for the West Indies at youth international level prior to making his first-class debut aged 19 for Jamaica. He played his first One Day International 11 months later, and his first Test match 6 months after that. Gayle, who normally opens the innings when he plays for the West Indies, is a destructive batsman who is most effective playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, Gayle (175), together with Daren Ganga (89) established the record for opening partnerships at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo when they put on 214 together against Zimbabwe.

However, generally speaking he had a slow start to his international career, but invigorated it in 2002, ending the year with three centuries against India in November and becoming the third West Indian to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year, along with Vivian Richards and Brian Lara. He is one of only six players in One Day International history to have three or more scores of 150. In 2005, Gayle was dropped for the first Test against South Africa along with six other players following a dispute over sponsorship issues (see below). He returned for the second test but had a poor series until the fourth Test, where he made a match-saving 317. It was the first ever triple century against South Africa and up until Mahela Jayawardene made 374, it was the highest individual Test score against them.

In August 2005, Gayle joined Worcestershire for the rest of the English season, playing eight matches. He made two half-centuries in three first class matches and two half-centuries in five one-day matches, and won one Man of the Match award in the one-day National League. However, Worcestershire were relegated after Gayle made 1 in the final match against Lancashire. Gayle was named Player of the 2006 Champions Trophy, where the West Indies nearly defended the title which they won in 2004, being defeated in the final by Australia. Gayle scored three centuries and totaled 474 runs, 150 more than any other batsman, and also took eight wickets in as many matches. Gayle, in keeping with the rest of the West Indies team, had a poor World Cup in 2007. He recorded a series of low scores; the one exception being a blistering 79 off 58 balls against England in the West Indies' final match.

On 17 December 2009 in the Australia v West Indies 3rd Test Chris Gayle scored the fifth fastest century in Test match history. He reached the century in just 70 balls. However he was shortly after dismissed for 102 runs. This feat included a flurry of runs thanks to some big hitting sixes. One of the sixes hit the Lillee Marsh stand's roof in a monstrous hit that was estimated by commentator, Ian Healy, to be approx 140 metres long. On 16 November 2010, he became the fourth cricketer to score two triple centuries in Test cricket after Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag.^[2]

Twenty20[link]

Gayle set the record for the highest innings in a Twenty20 International, scoring 117 against South Africa in the first match of the 2007 World Twenty20.^[3] The innings was the first century in international Twenty20 cricket and made him the first batsman to score a century in each of international cricket's three formats.^[4] The record stood unmatched until 19 February 2012, when South Africa's Richard Levi scored 117n.o. against New Zealand; Cricinfo recognised Levi as having broken the record outright, because a not out innings is ranked above a dismissal.^[5]

In the semi-final match of the 2009 World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, he became the first international player to carry his bat through the entire innings in this format of the game as well. In April 2008, Gayle was auctioned by the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, but missed the opening games due to a Sri Lanka tour to the Caribbean. When he finally joined the team, he missed out on the action due to a groin injury he picked up during that tour. Afterwards, he left to join the West Indies team for a home series against Australia, therefore not playing in the inaugural version of the IPL at all. On 1 July 2009, Gayle signed with the Western Australia Warriors for the Australian Domestic Twenty20 tournament known as the Big Bash for the 2009–10 season.

He played in the second IPL competition in early 2009, arriving for an away Test series against England very late, earning criticism about his commitment.^[6] His Test series went poorly, and the West Indies went on to lose both the Test and ODI series. Gayle, however, went to on score a match winning 88 in the first official match of the 2009 Twenty20, in a surprise victory over Australia.^[7]

In 2011, after being left out of the initial part of the West Indies T20 and one-day home series against Pakistan, Gayle opted to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League.^[8] In his first game against his previous team Kolkata Knight Riders, he scored 102 off 55 balls, hitting 10 fours and 7 sixes.^[9] On May 6, 2011, he scored another century, 107 off 49 balls against the Kings XI Punjab, which included 10 fours and 9 sixes.^[10] In the next match against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, he scored 37 runs in one over, which included 3 sixes, 3 fours and a no ball which was hit for a six.^[11][12] Although many people cite him as having hit the over for 37, one run was awarded as an extra due to the no ball. He can therefore be said to have hit 36 off an over which went for 37. Gayle won the Orange Cap Award for scoring the most runs in the tournament amassing 608 runs in 12 matches.^[13] He was instrumental in many victories for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and received five man of the match awards and also the player of the tournament award for his performances.^[14] In the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, Chris Gayle was the second highest run-scorer in the competition, behind David Warner, with 257 runs from 6 matches at an average of 42.83 and a top score of 92, and was one of the star players.^[15]

Following his prolific performances and the rubber-stamp being stamped that he is the ultimate pinch-hitter, Gayle was signed by Zimbabwean franchise Matabeleland Tuskers, for the 2011-12 Stanbic Bank 20 Series.^[16] As Gayle later recalled it was valuable practice ahead of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, where he had signed for the Sydney Thunder.^[17][18] Gayle hoped his first appearance in the tournament was a success, and he gave the spectators something to cheer about. Gayle was the second West Indian to be signed in the event, after the legendary Brian Lara had signed for Southern Rocks the previous season.

Gayle had tremendous success in that tournament. He was the leading run-scorer in that series with 293 runs, a top score of 109, and an average over 50. He was also the best batsman of the tournament.^[19] Ironically, the only century Gayle scored in the event ended in defeat as Mid West Rhinos's Brendan Taylor's outstanding 75* outlasted his team.^[20] The Tuskers could not win the tournament as the were overpowered by Mashonaland Eagles's Ryan ten Doeschate's brilliant 121* off 58 and despite Gayle scoring a blistering half-century, it was not to see his home through.^[21]

Gayle plays for Barisal Burners at the Bangladesh Premier League, and has scored two dominating centuries at more than double per ball.^[22]

In the 2012 IPL season, Gayle hit the most sixes (59)^[23] and was nominated for the orange cap for making 733 in 15 matches. ^[24].

List of Twenty20 centuries[link]

Chris Gayle holds the record for most centuries in Twenty20 cricket (8). Here is the list of all his Twenty20 hundreds

Controversies[link]

Despite being regarded as a calm, cool cricketer,^[26] In 2005 Gayle was involved in the dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and a number of players over sponsorship issues. These players had personal sponsorship deals with Cable and Wireless, who used to sponsor West Indian cricket. However, since the West Indies had recently become sponsored by Cable and Wireless' rivals Digicel the West Indies Cricket Board demanded the players dropped their Cable and Wireless deals. When the players refused to back down, the West Indies Cricket Board dropped them for the first Test against South Africa.^[27] Gayle later cut his deal with Cable and Wireless and rejoined the side for the second Test. He was charged with conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket during a Test against New Zealand in March 2006, but was subsequently found not guilty.^[28] Later that year, during October's Champions Trophy tournament in India, he was fined 30 percent of his match fee after repeated verbal exchanges with the Australian batsman Michael Clarke.^[29] He also publicly criticised the West Indies Cricket Board during the 2007 tour of England which led to an official reprimand and warning.^[30]

Gayle also received criticism in early 2009 during West Indies' tour of England, where he commented that he did not want to captain the West Indies anymore given the pressures involved, and that he "wouldn't be so sad" if Test cricket was superseded by Twenty20 cricket in the future.^[6] From the West Indies, both Viv Richards and Gary Sobers criticised Gayle's comments, as did opposite number Andrew Strauss.^[31] Gayle later commented that his statement had been quoted out of context, according to Julian Hunte, President of the West Indies Cricket Board.^[32] In an interview with Michael Atherton at the conclusion of a West Indies defeat in their tour of England, Gayle stated that he was not going to resign the captaincy.^[33]

In April 2011 Gayle criticised the West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson and has not played for the team since. On April 6, 2012, Gayle and the WICB reached an understanding that paves the way for the former West Indies captain to return to the national team. He hasn't played cricket for the West Indies since March 23 in the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan.^[34]

Player statistics[link]

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Gayle's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Test centuries[link]

The following table illustrates a summary of the Test centuries scored by Chris Gayle.

• In the column Runs, * indicates being not out.
• The column title Match refers to the Match Number of his career.

Test Centuries of Chris Gayle[35]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	175	10	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	Queens Sports Club	2001	Won
2	204	23	New Zealand	St. George's, Grenada	National Cricket Stadium	2002	Drawn
3	116	36	South Africa	Cape Town, South Africa	Newlands	2004	Drawn
4	107	37	South Africa	Centurion, South Africa	SuperSport Park	2004	Lost
5	141	42	Bangladesh	Gros Islet, St Lucia	Beausejour Cricket Ground	2004	Drawn
6	105	47	England	London, England	The Oval	2004	Lost
7	317	50	South Africa	St. John's, Antigua	Antigua Recreation Ground	2005	Drawn
8	197	75	New Zealand	Napier, New Zealand	McLean Park	2008	Drawn
9	104	76	England	Kingston, Jamaica	Sabina Park	2009	Won
10	104	80	England	Port of Spain, Trinidad	Queen's Park Oval	2009	Drawn
11	165*	84	Australia	Adelaide, Australia	Adelaide Oval	2009	Drawn
12	102	85	Australia	Perth, Australia	WACA Ground	2009	Lost
13	333	89	Sri Lanka	Galle, Sri Lanka	Galle International Stadium	2010	Drawn

One Day International Centuries[link]

One Day International Centuries of Chris Gayle[36]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	152		Kenya	Nairobi, Kenya	Simba Union Ground	2001	Won
2	103	54	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Won
3	100*	99	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Won
4	101	01	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Lost
5	119	68	Kenya	Kimberley, South Africa	De Beers Diamond Oval	2003	Won
6	153*	79	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	Queens Sports Club	2003	Won
7	112*	83	Zimbabwe	Harare, Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2003	Won
8	152*	88	South Africa	Johannesburg, South Africa	The Wanderers Stadium	2004	Lost
9	132*	100	England	London, England	Lord's	2004	Won
10	132	116	South Africa	Bridgetown, Barbados	Kensington Oval	2005	Lost
11	124	124	Pakistan	Gros Islet, St Lucia	Beausejour Cricket Ground	2005	Lost
12	123	134	South Africa	Bridgetown, Barbados	Kensington Oval	2007	Lost
13	104*	145	Pakistan	Harare, Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2009	Won
14	101	149	England	Ahmedabad, India	Sardar Patel Stadium	2006	Lost
15	133*	150	South Africa	Jaipur, India	Sawai Mansingh Stadium	2006	Won
16	110*	186	Canada	King City, Canada	Maple Leaf Cricket Club	2008	Won
17	113	187	Pakistan	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2008	Lost
18	122	189	Pakistan	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2008	Lost
19	10	190	New Zealand	Napier, New Zealand	McLean Park	2008	Lost

Twenty20 International Centuries[link]

Twenty20 International Centuries of Chris Gayle[37]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	107		South Africa	Johannesburg, South africa	The wanderers Stadium	2007	lost

Notes[link]

References[link]

• 75 Years of West Indies Cricket 1928–2000 by Ray Goble and Keith AP Sandiford ISBN 1-870518-78-0

External links[link]

• Player profile: Chris Gayle from CricketArchive
• Player profile: Chris Gayle from ESPNcricinfo

Chris Paul

Chris Paul as a guard for the Hornets.
No. 3 – Los Angeles Clippers
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1985-05-06) May 6, 1985 (age 27) Lewisville, North Carolina[1]
Nationality	American
High school	West Forsyth High School
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Wake Forest
NBA Draft	2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the New Orleans Hornets
Pro career	2005–present
Career history
2005–2011	New Orleans Hornets
2011–present	Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
NBA Rookie of the Year (2006) 5× NBA All-Star (2008–2012) 2× All-NBA First Team (2008, 2012) All-NBA Second Team (2009) All-NBA Third Team (2011) All-Rookie First Team (2006) 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009, 2012) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008, 2011) 4× NBA steals leader (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) 2× NBA assists leader (2008, 2009)

Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake Forest University. After his sophomore year with the Demon Deacons, he declared for the draft. Since being selected 4th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, Paul has been a NBA Rookie of the Year (2006), a five-time All-Star, and a multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive team honoree. He led the Hornets to the second round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. He has also won an Olympic Gold Medal with the United States national basketball team.

Off the court, Paul has also achieved success in the sport of bowling and is a sponsored spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). He has participated in numerous celebrity and youth bowling events as the head of the CP3 Foundation to benefit programs in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and charities in Winston-Salem.

Early years[link]

Chris Paul was born in Lewisville, North Carolina in 1985 as the second son of Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones, two years after Charles "C.J." Paul in 1983.^[2] Charles and Robin were childhood friends who grew up in Winston-Salem and were members of Dreamland Park Baptist before marrying in 1982.^[2][3] A former athlete himself, Charles taught his sons the games of basketball and football and coached them in various youth events throughout their childhood.^[2] Paul was a gifted athlete, going to the national Pop Warner football championships as a quarterback and linebacker on the Lewisville Titans Junior Pee Wee team,^[4][5] and winning several 14U AAU national tournaments in basketball.^[5]

Besides athletics, the Paul brothers spent their summers operating the cash register, rotating tires and changing air filters at Jones Chevron, a service station owned by their grandfather Nathanial Jones on their mother Robin's side. Affectionately known as "Papa Chili" throughout the community, Jones had operated the station, the first such African-American-operated service station in North Carolina since 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.^[6][7] Paul describes his grandfather as "his best friend" and credits many life lessons to him.^[8]

High school[link]

In 1999, Paul began attending West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina, where C.J. was already a star junior at point guard. Despite Paul's talent, he was at a significant disadvantage due to his 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m) stature. Paul opted to play on the JV basketball team his freshman and sophomore years, believing that the opportunity to gain confidence and experience on the JV would be more beneficial than sitting on the bench on varsity.^[9] Meanwhile, Paul grew to 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) by his sophomore year.^[5]

By the time Paul had ascended to the varsity squad as a junior, C.J. had graduated. The Paul brothers only ended up playing on the court for 15 seconds together at the end of a playoff game in Paul's sophomore year and C.J.'s senior year in 2001. Paul, who spurted another eight inches to 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), posted 25.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.4 steals per game to help West Forsyth (26–4) reach the state semifinals.^[10] Over the next summer, Paul emerged as a heavily recruited point guard. With his family watching, Paul signed his letter of intent to Wake Forest to play for coach Skip Prosser before his senior year. Only 13 miles away from where he grew up in Lewisville, Paul had already verbally committed to them during his junior year and attended many Demon Deacons practices and games.

Tragically, only a day after signing his letter of intent, the body of Nathanial Jones was discovered by Paul's father. Jones died after being beaten and robbed by a group of teens as he unloaded groceries from his car in his driveway. Five teenagers tied Jones’ hands behind his back, taped his mouth, and beat him around the head and face. Jones, who had a history of heart trouble, lay in his carport and died from cardiac arhythmia. He was 61. Over 2,000 people honored the memories of Jones at his funeral four days later. The next day, fueled by the suggestion of an aunt, an emotionally devastated Paul scored 61 points in honor of his grandfather, one point for every year his grandfather lived, in West Forsyth's 2002–03 season opener.

Despite Paul's previous career high being 39 points, by halftime, he had racked up 32 points in 16 minutes. When Paul reached the 61-point mark late in the 4th quarter, he purposely airballed a free throw, then took himself out of the game to hug his family on the sidelines, even though the state high school scoring record of 66 points was well within reach.^[11] In 2003, Paul averaged 30.8 points, 9.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.0 steals per game the remainder of his senior year and led his team to a 27–3 record and the Class 4A Eastern Regional finals. He was a 2003 McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand Classic participant and was named North Carolina's Mr. Basketball for 2003 by The Charlotte Observer.^[10]

Summer circuit[link]

Though he did not win a state championship while in high school, Paul did take the Winston-Salem-based Kappa Magic (alongside future University of North Carolina rival Reyshawn Terry), to the 2002 National U-17 AAU Championship over an All-Ohio team led by 2003 McDonald's All-American Drew Lavender, taking home the tournament's MVP award in the process.^[10]

College career[link]

Paul attended Wake Forest University and played for the Demon Deacons for two seasons, leading the school to two NCAA Tournaments, including one Sweet Sixteen appearance. In Paul's freshman year, he started and made an immediate impact. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year, Third Team All-ACC, an All-American Honorable Mention, and National Freshman of the Year by several publications as he averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 assists a game and helped the Demon Deacons reach the Sweet Sixteen of the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament before losing to St. Joseph's. Paul also broke five Wake Forest freshman records, three-point percentage, free throws, free throw percentage, assists and steals.^[10]

Paul also earned ACC All-Defensive Team honors during his time at Wake and was among the Consensus First Team All-Americans in his sophomore year. He was also a named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team with a 3.21 Grade point average as a third-term selection.^[12] During the ACC post season tournament, Paul was suspended one game for punching NC State guard Julius Hodge in the groin. ^[13] By the time he declared for the 2005 NBA Draft as a sophomore, he had finished near the top of almost every offensive category at Wake Forest.

After his sophomore year, Paul declared for the 2005 NBA Draft. The Demon Deacons went 48–16 (.750) in games Chris Paul played in. Paul was ranked second among Wake Forest's all-time career leaders for 3-point shooting percentage (.469), and 7th in assists and steals.

NBA career[link]

New Orleans Hornets[link]

2005–06: Rookie stardom[link]

Paul speaking with then-coach Byron Scott.

Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft. Due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that summer to the city of New Orleans, Paul did not play his first full season in New Orleans. Instead, the team played in various arenas and relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Hornets only played three games in New Orleans Arena.

Paul led all rookies in points, assists, steals, and minutes, earning him the 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Paul was a near-unanimous winner for the award, but one voter (Ron Boone, television analyst for the Utah Jazz) gave Deron Williams his vote instead of Paul. This, along with the fact that both were taken back to back in the draft and play the same position, has led to an on-court rivalry between Paul and Williams.^[14] Their rivalry began on December 1, 2004 when Paul led his No. 1-ranked Wake Forest into Champaign to face Williams' Illini. Illinois thrashed the Demon Deacons 91–73 and took the top spot from there into their run to the 2005 NCAA Championship Game. Williams had 8 points and 11 assists while Paul was held to 10 points.

Paul finished the 2005–06 season averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. He was also the only unanimous selection to the 2005–06 NBA All Rookie First Team and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month every month in the 2005–06 season. After the season, Paul won the ESPY Award for Best Breakthrough Athlete. He recorded his first triple-double on April 2, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.

2006–07 season[link]

Paul followed up his impressive rookie campaign with a solid sophomore season. He improved his scoring average to 17.3 points, and improved his assists average with 8.9 per game. He averaged 4.4 rebounds per game. Paul's season was riddled with injuries though, as he was limited to playing in only 64 games.

Paul was not named an All-Star in 2007, but he was named to replace Steve Nash in the 2007 PlayStation Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend. He played in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and dished out 17 assists and had 9 steals, both T-Mobile Rookie Challenge records. When interviewed during the Rookie Challenge, Paul vowed that he would be an All-Star next season, as the All-Star Game would be held in New Orleans.

2007–08 season[link]

Paul in a game against Boston

The 2007–08 season brought the full return of the Hornets to the city of New Orleans. Emerging as a true superstar, Paul averaged 21.1 points and 4 rebounds,^[15] and led the NBA in steals with 2.71 per game and assists with 11.6 per game.^[16] He was selected by NBA coaches to play in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game which was hosted by the city of New Orleans, thereby fulfilling his vow from the previous season. Paul's teammate David West was named as an All-Star reserve and Hornets coach Byron Scott coached the Western Conference All-Stars. During All-Star Weekend, Paul participated again in the 2008 All-Star PlayStation Skills Challenge winning the first round but losing in the final round to Deron Williams. Paul sparked a 4th quarter comeback for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, but the East held on to win 134–128. He finished the game with 16 points, 14 assists and 5 steals.

Paul continued his stellar play following the All Star game, leading the New Orleans Hornets to one of the best records in the West. After a 37 point, 13 assist, and 3 steal performance by Paul against the Chicago Bulls on March 17, 2008, Paul led a 4th quarter comeback win,^[17] the Hornets ascended to the top of the standings in the Western Conference. On April 4, 2008, Chris Paul helped the Hornets clinch a playoff spot for the first time since the 2003–04 season. The Hornets ultimately finished the season with a 56–26 record, the best record in team history, and finished #2 overall in the NBA Western Conference standings. Paul ended the season leading the NBA with 11.6 assists and 2.71 steals per game,^[16] and registered a steal in all 80 games he played in.

In Paul's first NBA playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored 35 points, with 24 coming in the second half,^[18] along with 10 assists and 4 steals.^[19] In Game 2, he scored 32 points and set a franchise playoff-record 17 assists, leading the Hornets to a 127–103 victory to go 2–0 against Dallas.^[20] After splitting Games 3 and 4 in Dallas, the Hornets eliminated the Mavericks, 4–1, in Game 5 for their first ever playoff series victory behind a 24 point, 11 rebound, and 15 assist performance from Paul.^[21]