NBA News 2016: Chris Paul Enters List Of MVP Candidates; Gregg Popovich Lauds Kristaps Porzingis

By Miguel Vasquez, Christian Post Contributor Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Los Angeles Clippers star point guard Chris Paul has entered the mix of Most Valuable Player candidates for the 2015-2016 NBA regular season.

In an article by Sekou Smith for NBA.com, the 30-year-old professional basketball player is now part of the top 10 of the Kia Race to the MVP ladder for the first time this season.

Paul sits at the number nine spot, along with contemporaries such as Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Andre Drummond, just to name a few.

The said list is still led by last year's most Most Valuable Player awardee, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

Currently, Paul has put up significant numbers to help the Clippers secure the number four spot at the Western Conference standings with a record of 25-13.

For the season, he is averaging 18.1 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 1.9 steals through 32.19 minutes of playing time.

His most notable performance as of late came during the Clippers' game against the Portland Trailblazers. Paul scored 21 points, and put up a season-high 19 assists, as Los Angeles emerged victorious with a score of 109-98.

Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich had nothing but good words for 20-year-old rookie Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks.

In a report by The New York Post, Poppovich lauded Porzingis for the latter's performance during the Knicks vs. Spurs game on Friday, where San Antonio managed to squeak past the opposition with a score of 100-99.

Describing Porzingis as a "hell of a young talent", Popovich mainly praised the Latvian professional basketball player for his skills on the court.

"From what I've seen, he's a special young man. They were very astute in figuring out what he might be down the road," Popovich said, according to the New York Post article. "His agility, sense of the game, his skills are quite significant. I think he's going to be a great player.''

During the said game, Porzingis scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.