After 21 seasons, Chris Paul is officially hanging it up. One of the greatest point guards the game has ever seen, Paul announced his retirement shortly after being released by the Toronto Raptors-a stop that was more about cap mechanics than basketball. With that, a remarkable NBA career comes to a close.
Let’s be clear: Chris Paul didn’t just play the point guard position-he defined it for a generation. The numbers alone are staggering.
Second all-time in both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728), trailing only John Stockton in each, Paul was a master of the floor game. He led the league in assists five times and in steals six times, a testament to both his basketball IQ and tenacity on defense.
Whether it was threading the needle on a pick-and-roll or baiting a careless dribble into a turnover, Paul’s fingerprints were all over every game he played.
But for all the accolades-12 All-Star selections, multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive nods, and a reputation as one of the most cerebral players in league history-there’s one line on his résumé that remains blank: NBA champion. The closest he came was in 2021, when he and the Phoenix Suns raced out to a 2-0 lead in the Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. That series slipped away, and with it, Paul's best shot at a ring.
That moment now looms large in retrospect, especially when you consider how the final chapters of his career unfolded. After his stint in Phoenix, Paul bounced from Golden State to San Antonio to a brief and ultimately disappointing reunion with the Clippers. None of those stops provided the storybook ending fans hoped for, and his final season played out more like a quiet fade than a farewell tour.
Still, Paul’s impact goes far beyond championships. He was the archetype of the traditional point guard at a time when the NBA was shifting toward positionless play and score-first guards. He controlled tempo, dictated matchups, and made teammates better-whether it was feeding a young David West in New Orleans, running lob city in L.A., or guiding the Suns to the brink of a title.
His retirement message, posted to social media, was simple and heartfelt: “This is it.” And while it might not have been the exit he envisioned, Paul seems at peace with the decision.
The league, in many ways, made it for him. But his legacy?
That’s firmly in his hands.
For the players who grew up watching him, and for the fans who marveled at his command of the game, Paul will always be more than his stat line. He was the guy who saw the play before it happened, who knew where everyone should be-and made sure they got there.
Next stop: Springfield. A first-ballot Hall of Fame induction feels like a formality.
As for what comes next, Paul’s statement mentioned he’s “stepping away from basketball,” but don’t be surprised if he finds his way back into the game. Whether it’s coaching, broadcasting, or mentoring the next wave of floor generals, his basketball mind is too sharp to sit idle for long.
Chris Paul didn’t get the ring. But he got the respect. And in this league, that lasts just as long.