Chris Paul and the 10 best point guards of all time

Chris Paul announced his retirement Friday, ending a 21-year career as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. He retires ranked second all-time in assists and steals, with 11 All-NBA appearances and 15 trips to the playoffs.

As the 12-time All-Star walks away from the game, probably yelling at a referee on his way, here are the 10 greatest point guards of all time and where CP3 ranks among them.

1. Magic Johnson

It's a testament to Paul that people still call him the "Point God" even when Magic Johnson exists. In 12 seasons, Johnson went to the NBA Finals nine times, winning five championships and three MVP trophies. As the orchestrator of the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" offense, Johnson averaged more assists than anyone in NBA history and was versatile enough to start at center in a Finals game.

2. Steph Curry

Steph Curry won four titles and two MVP awards for the Golden State Warriors. He's the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers by a mile and won Finals MVP in 2022. One could knock Curry for being a scorer more than a passer, but his gravity and ability to warp defenses makes up for his lower assist totals.

3. Oscar Robertson

The "Big O" averaged a triple-double in his first five pro seasons, including his MVP campaign of 1963-64. He was first team All-NBA for the first nine years of his career, won six assist titles and took home a title with the Milwaukee Bucks.

4. Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy was an NBA pioneer, effectively inventing the point guard position as the "Houdini of the Hardwood." Cousy made the All-Star team in all 13 years with the Boston Celtics, won MVP in 1957 and was first-team All-NBA for a full decade while winning six titles.

5. John Stockton

Since retiring, John Stockton has become underrated, despite being the career leader in steals and assists. He and Karl Malone were together for 18 seasons — and won zero titles. Despite Stockton's unimposing appearance, he was a hard-nosed defender and unflappable in clutch moments.