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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richard Jefferson puts Chris Paul a tier below John Stockton: "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups"
Richard Jefferson puts Chris Paul a tier below John Stockton: "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Chris Paul is set to play in his 21st season in the league after he signed a one-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite this development, it cannot be denied that the Point God's' decorated career is nearing its end. With that, the crew of the "Road Trippin'" recently discussed where Chris stands in the pantheon of all-time great point guards. Former NBA champion and current broadcaster Richard Jefferson acknowledges that, despite his accomplishments, he falls short of the elite status held by John Stockton. Jefferson points out that Stockton's legendary assists record, set over two decades ago, remains a benchmark CP has yet to approach, placing him in a tier below Stockton. On the same level as Billups CP3 and Stockton share similar career paths as elite playmakers and assist machines, yet neither has secured an NBA championship. Both have come agonizingly close, reaching the Finals only to fall short on the sport's grandest stage. However, Jefferson believes the comparison between the two ends there. "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups, who has one championship, right and won a Finals MVP," he shared. "You would say statistically, Chris Paul had a way better career," Jefferson continued. "But I think in the class of: if this was your point guard, the attributes that you are getting, you would even say Chauncey Billups with going to five straight Conference Finals or four straight Conference Finals and two Finals." "If you look at team success and Chris Paul, he's always had team success, but he's had more team success. So I put him in that tier with those guys," he concluded. Paul has had a remarkable career, amassing 12,499 assists to place second on the all-time list behind Stockton. However, many consider the latter's record to be near-unbreakable as he totaled 15,806 in his 19-year NBA career. As a matter of fact, the next active player on the all-time assists leader list is Russell Westbrook who stands in the eighth spot with 9,925 dimes.A level below the Magics and Stocktons There are levels to greatness in the NBA and it's safe to say that Paul belongs to the second tier. Despite being a highly skilled player with an impressive resume, he falls just short of the all-time greats like Stockton and Magic Johnson. "There's the Magic Johnsons, there's the John Stocktons, there's the Isiah Thomases," Jefferson stated. "Some people have Steph in that point guards [list], some people have him in two guard. I think there's that tier and then I think that there's that next tier." CP has not been done yet, but the proof is in the numbers. Factoring in his average of 7.4 assists per game in 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season, CP needs to average that for the next 447 games to reach Stockton's mark. "Let me just say this: CP, great point guard, statistically, all the things," Jefferson expressed. "I would say he's still five, six seasons away from John Stockton on the assist record, right?" While CP continues to make his mark and climb the all-time lists, Stockton's name remains as the mark of excellence, endurance and the ultimate unselfishness. And while his lack of a championship ring may be a stain on his resume, it can never be denied that he was one of the greatest court generals of all story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Doris Burke's ESPN future in doubt as Richard Jefferson gets new deal
Richard Jefferson is finalizing an agreement with ESPN/ABC to return to his role as an NBA analyst on the top broadcasting team, according to The Athletic. With Jefferson, 45, set to return to a team that features Mike Breen, the third leg of the booth seems to be in flux. Questions remain about Doris Burke's future with the ABC crew, per the outlet. Advertisement 3 ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson. NBAE via Getty Images The Basketball Hall of Famer has been part of the top broadcasting team since 2023, following the departure of Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson from the network. It's been a bit of a revolving door since in the main booth, with Doc Rivers joining Breen and Burke, promising that he would not return to coaching, but he bolted for the Bucks head coaching job. Advertisement His replacement, JJ Redick, also left after a few months in the role to be the Lakers' bench boss. That led to Jefferson getting the nod, though it seems more changes could be coming to the booth, if Burke doesn't stick around. 3 ESPN analyst Doris Burke NBAE via Getty Images 3 The trio that has been ESPN's First team. Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke and Mike Breen. (From left to right) NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement The Athletic reports Tim Legler could be an option for her replacement, though ESPN could also decide to run with a two-man booth. Jefferson, however, doesn't seem to be keen on breaking up the band. During the College Softball World Series, he came on to the 'SEC Now 'show wearing a shirt that read, 'My Favorite Broadcaster is… Doris Burke.' Advertisement While changes to the booth may be coming, one issue ESPN with have to face is having 20 fewer games to cover during the regular season, leading the network to lean heavily on its top two broadcast teams.
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Richard Jefferson agrees to return to ESPN; Doris Burke's spot still in question: Sources
Richard Jefferson has an agreement in place to return to ABC/ESPN, where he is expected to continue on NBA Finals broadcasts with Mike Breen, while Doris Burke's spot on the network's top team remains in question, sources briefed on the discussions said. Jefferson, 45, was elevated to the No. 1 team last season after previously being on the network's No. 2 team. Advertisement The official contract is not yet signed. ESPN declined to comment on Jefferson's agreement. Amazon Prime Video, which begins its coverage of the NBA in the fall, had some interest in Jefferson at one point. If ESPN were to replace Burke, Tim Legler is considered the leading candidate. The network could also choose a two-person booth. Before the finals, The Athletic reported that Burke's spot on the No. 1 team was not guaranteed. A Hall of Famer, Burke had been on the top trio since ESPN fired its lead analysts, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, during the summer of 2023. Since then, Breen and Burke were briefly paired with Doc Rivers before he returned to coaching with the Milwaukee Bucks. After Rivers, ESPN selected JJ Redick over Jefferson to replace Rivers. But after the 2024 NBA Finals, Redick took the Los Angeles Lakers coaching job. Following The Athletic's story in June, many publicly supported Burke, most notably Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. Before his team played in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, he took time to address the report and praise Burke. Jefferson, for his part, showed up at the Women's College World Series, which was in Oklahoma City like the NBA Finals, sporting a T-shirt that read, 'My Favorite Broadcaster is Doris Burke.' Championship mindset 🥎💍@Rjeff24 talks about what it takes to win on the biggest stage. — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 7, 2025 Next season, ESPN will have 20 fewer games during the regular season, making it easier for the network to lean on its two top teams. Breen, Dave Pasch, Ryan Ruocco and Mark Jones will be the lead play-by-play announcers, while Jefferson, Burke, Legler and Jay Bilas have been the top analysts.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richard Jefferson Reveals Why It ‘Sucks' to be Teammates with LeBron James
LeBron James remains one of the best NBA players right now, but the 40-year-old superstar finds himself on shaky ground with the Los Angeles Lakers. Amid swirling NBA rumors about a potential exit, one of his former teammates has shed light on why it can be difficult to play with him. On a recent episode of the Road Trippin' podcast, ESPN analyst and former NBA player Richard Jefferson explained why it 'sucks' to play with LeBron as a teammate. 'Playing with LeBron sucks because you're trying to win a championship. He is one of the most competitive human beings in the history of American sports and sports in general. Does it suck when you're showing up and he's already been practicing for four hours and you're like 'oh s—.' When he's watching film and you mess up a play and he's just like, 'm—–f—er what are you doing?'' Richard Jefferson on being teammates with LeBron James Related: LeBron James stats (): 24.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, 7.8 RPG, 51.3% FG Jefferson can certainly speak from experience when it comes to being LeBron's teammate. They played together from 2015–17 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when the four-time NBA MVP was determined to deliver a championship for Ohio and end one of the longest championship droughts in sports. That comes with a cost: the team needs to play at an extremely high level consistently, with players elevating their game around LeBron. It comes with added pressure, and LeBron pushed his teammates harder than anyone outside the organization knew. However, Jefferson noted it's like that with all-time greats. 'Yeah, those are the cons. But there were cons for playing with Jordan, there were cons for playing with Kobe, there were cons for playing with players that were so great that they demanded excellence. There were cons for playing for Pat Riley or Popovich or Spoelstra. There's always cons when you're trying to win at the highest level.' Richard Jefferson on how the cons of playing with LeBron James are like other NBA legends Of course, all of that happened at a time when James was the center of the NBA and given a lot of control over what the Cavaliers' organization did. Following the Luka Doncic trade, he doesn't have that with the Lakers, and the organization is signaling that Doncic is the new face of the franchise. At this point, the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks are the teams known to have some interest in landing LeBron. However, no deal is imminent, and the limitations the NBA's collective bargaining agreement puts on teams with the apron penalties of the luxury tax make a trade unlikely. Related Headlines MLB Rumors: New York Yankees Eyeing 3 Diamondbacks Players, Fallback Plan at 3B 5 NFL Offseason Moves That Teams Will Regret NASCAR Xfinity results: BetRivers 200 winner, full NASCAR Xfinity Series stage results NBA Rumors: New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings Eyeing All-Star Guard
Fox News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
LeBron James' former teammate explains why it 'sucks' playing with him
Richard Jefferson played with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James for two seasons from 2015 to 2017 and won an NBA championship before his 17-year career ended. But playing with James, considered the best player in the NBA during the prime of his career, wasn't always rainbows and butterflies. James' competitiveness was otherworldly. Jefferson explained on the "Road Trippin'" podcast the possibility of James getting a buyout from the Los Angeles Lakers and rejoining the Cavaliers at the end of his career. "Playing with LeBron sucks because you're trying to win a championship," the current ESPN NBA broadcaster said, via Awful Announcing. "He is one of the most competitive human beings in the history of American sports and sports in general. "Does it suck when you're showing up, and he's already been practicing for four hours and you're like 'Oh s---?' When he's watching film and you mess up a play, and he's just like, 'Motherf-----, what are you doing?'" But Jeferson said the upside was he was playing with one of the greatest basketball players of all time. "And it's like, 'Yeah, those are the cons.' But there were cons for playing with (Michael) Jordan. There were cons for playing with Kobe (Bryant). There were cons playing with players that were so great that they demanded excellence. There were cons for playing for Pat Riley or (Gregg) Popovich or (Erik) Spoelstra. There's always cons when you're trying to win at the highest level." James' future with the Lakers may be in question, but he's reportedly expected to be with the team. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
