Chris Paul Calls It a Career: A Legendary Journey Comes to a Close
After 21 seasons of brilliance, heartbreak, and everything in between, Chris Paul has officially announced his retirement from the NBA. The 12-time All-Star took to Instagram to share the news, and in true CP3 fashion, the basketball world responded with an outpouring of respect and admiration.
From LeBron James to Muggsy Bogues, the tributes came pouring in - and rightfully so. Paul’s impact on the game goes far beyond the box score.
Let’s be clear: Chris Paul wasn’t just a great point guard - he was the Point God. A floor general in the truest sense, Paul combined elite vision, surgical precision, and relentless competitiveness to become one of the most influential players of his era.
Drafted fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, Paul hit the ground running, capturing Rookie of the Year honors and never looking back. Over the course of two decades, he made 12 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, and nine All-Defensive squads. He led the league in assists five times and retires second all-time in total assists with 12,552 - a number that speaks volumes about both his longevity and his mastery of the position.
But Paul’s influence can’t be measured by stats alone. Wherever he went, winning followed.
He elevated every franchise he touched - from the Hornets to the Clippers, Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and finally the Spurs. In fact, four of those teams set franchise records for wins in a season during his tenure.
That’s not coincidence. That’s leadership.
Still, the one accolade that eluded him was the NBA championship. His closest shot came in 2021 with the Phoenix Suns, when they surged to a 2-0 lead in the Finals before ultimately falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. It was a bitter pill, no doubt, but it didn’t define his legacy.
Paul’s final season had the makings of a storybook ending. He signed a one-year deal with the Clippers - the team where he arguably played his best basketball - and announced in November that this would be his farewell tour.
But the script took a sudden turn. The Clippers, citing internal issues, sent him home from a road trip and cut ties on December 3.
A month later, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him shortly after without requiring him to report.
It wasn’t the ending Paul envisioned, but that doesn’t diminish the journey. He walks away with career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game - numbers that reflect his consistency and all-around impact over two decades of elite play.
The respect he commands around the league is telling. LeBron James called it a “helluva career,” while Dwyane Wade praised him as a “legend.”
Klay Thompson, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and others echoed similar sentiments. These aren’t just compliments - they’re acknowledgments from peers who understand how rare it is to sustain greatness at that level for so long.
Chris Paul didn’t just play the game - he shaped it. He redefined what it meant to be a point guard in the modern NBA, blending old-school fundamentals with new-school flair. He’s a lock for the Hall of Fame, and when that day comes, it won’t be just a celebration of his stats - it’ll be a tribute to his leadership, his toughness, and the way he elevated the game every time he stepped on the floor.
There may not be a championship ring in his jewelry box, but make no mistake: Chris Paul’s legacy is gold.