Chris Paul has officially called it a career.
The 12-time All-Star and one of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever seen announced his retirement Friday via Instagram, closing the book on a 21-year run that redefined the position. The announcement came shortly after Paul was waived by the Toronto Raptors, just days after being acquired in a three-team trade from the LA Clippers. He never suited up for Toronto - and truthfully, no one expected him to.
Paul’s résumé is as complete as they come. He finishes with 12 All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA selections, and nine All-Defensive Team honors.
He won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London), and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team - a nod to his standing among the all-time greats. Statistically, only John Stockton has more assists in NBA history.
Paul was the first player ever to hit the 20,000-point, 10,000-assist milestone - a testament to both his scoring touch and his elite playmaking.
His career spanned two decades, and nearly every stop came with impact. From his early days in New Orleans to the "Lob City" era with the Clippers, Paul was the engine behind multiple playoff teams.
That Clippers run - with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan - gave us six straight postseason appearances and some of the most electrifying basketball of the 2010s. His recent return to LA seemed like a poetic final chapter, but the reunion was short-lived.
The Clippers sent him home during a December road trip, and just like that, his time with the franchise ended quietly.
Paul was traded to Toronto in a move largely driven by financial maneuvering - the Raptors shed salary by sending Ochai Agbaji and his $6.4 million contract to Brooklyn. Paul, playing on a veteran minimum deal, was never expected to play in Canada.
This season, Paul saw limited action - just 16 games with the Clippers, averaging 14.3 minutes, 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 0.7 steals. It was a far cry from the player who started all 82 games for the Spurs just a season ago, but at 38 years old, the wear and tear had taken its toll.
Of course, no look back at Paul’s career is complete without revisiting the trade that never happened. In 2011, coming out of the lockout, Paul was set to join the Lakers and team up with Kobe Bryant.
The deal was famously vetoed by then-commissioner David Stern, as the NBA owned the New Orleans franchise at the time. A week later, Paul landed with the Clippers instead - and the rest is history.
After his Clippers tenure ended in 2017, Paul made stops in Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State, and San Antonio. Each stint brought something different - a deep playoff run with the Suns, a surprise postseason berth with the Thunder, and veteran leadership wherever he went.
Looking ahead, Paul’s next chapter could be in broadcasting. He’s no stranger to the camera, having already worked with ABC and ESPN on NBA coverage.
He also has strong ties to outgoing Disney CEO Bob Iger, and ESPN would appear to be the frontrunner if Paul chooses to go that route. NBC and Amazon Prime Video are also reportedly interested.
While ESPN’s top game and studio roles are currently filled, the network has plenty of NBA programming - including “NBA Countdown” and conference finals coverage - where Paul could slide in seamlessly.
Wherever he ends up, whether behind a mic or simply enjoying retirement, Chris Paul leaves the game as one of its most respected and accomplished players. A floor general in every sense of the word, his combination of vision, leadership, and competitiveness made him must-watch for two decades. The Hall of Fame won’t have to wait long.