Suns' Chris Paul Becomes 6th Player in NBA History with 10,000 Career Assists

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul became just the sixth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists during Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul dished out 13 assists to go along with 11 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and one block across 32 minutes during the 111-94 triumph over the Lakers. It was his first triple-double of the season and the 16th of his decorated career.

Here are the only players ahead of the 11-time All-Star on the all-time assist leaderboard:

1. John Stockton (15,806)
2. Jason Kidd (12,091)
3. Steve Nash (10,335)
4. Mark Jackson (10,334)
5. Magic Johnson (10,141)

Paul is on pace for around 265 more assists during the current campaign if he stays healthy, which would move him past Johnson and give him a chance to surpass Nash and Jackson during the early stages of next season.

Trying to chase down Kidd, or potentially even attempting to make a run at the record, depends on how long the 35-year-old Wake Forest product plans to play. He's continued to play at a high level following his November trade to Phoenix, so there's no reason to think he can't keep rolling for several more years.

The 2005 first-round pick would likely have to play into his mid-40s to have a chance at Stockton, though. And that's an estimate based on remaining mostly healthy for a decade, so it's a long shot.

That said, Paul should finish no lower than third on the all-time assist list and find himself on the way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after his career comes to a close.