What pick was Chris Paul selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA draft?
Answer
Fourth Overall
What pick was Chris Paul selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA draft? Chris Paul was selected fourth overall. The New Orleans Hornets chose the point guard with the fourth pick in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft.
Paul entered the draft after two seasons at Wake Forest, where he became known for his ball-handling, passing, defensive pressure, and leadership. The first three selections in 2005 were Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, and Deron Williams; Paul was the next player chosen.
He made an immediate impact in New Orleans, averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game as a rookie. He won the 2005–06 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was the only unanimous selection to the All-Rookie first team.
The franchise later moved to Oklahoma City temporarily after Hurricane Katrina and eventually became the New Orleans Pelicans, but Paul’s draft selection is historically credited to the New Orleans Hornets. His fourth-overall selection became one of the defining picks of the 2005 draft class.