Chris Paul Retires After 21 Seasons: A Hall of Fame Career Ends with Spurs, Not Clippers
After 21 seasons of elite-level basketball, Chris Paul has officially called it a career. One of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever seen, Paul exits the league with a résumé that speaks for itself: 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defensive honors, and league-leading marks in assists five times and steals six times. He never captured that elusive championship, but make no mistake-CP3's legacy is secure among the game’s all-time greats.
From orchestrating the high-flying "Lob City" Clippers to leading a surprise playoff push with the Thunder, Paul’s impact has been felt in every locker room he's entered. He made deep postseason runs with the Suns, mentored young talent in Oklahoma City, and even had a brief stint with the Warriors. But it was his final full season with the San Antonio Spurs that closed the book on his storied career.
The Spurs Chapter: A Veteran’s Final Stand
Paul’s final real season came not with the Clippers, where many expected him to finish his career, but with a team that once stood as one of his fiercest rivals. The San Antonio Spurs brought in the veteran guard on a one-year deal, not as a savior, but as a mentor. And Paul delivered.
He started all 82 games for a young Spurs squad, providing the kind of leadership you can’t measure on a stat sheet. Sure, his prime days were behind him, but the poise, the basketball IQ, and the steady hand he brought to the floor were exactly what San Antonio needed. The Spurs didn’t make the playoffs that year, but Paul’s presence helped lay a foundation for the team’s future-both on and off the court.
It was a fitting, if unexpected, final act: a future Hall of Famer guiding the next generation in one of the league’s most respected organizations.
The Clippers Exit: A Sudden and Unceremonious End
Paul had hoped to finish his career back in Los Angeles, where he spent six of his best seasons running the show for the Clippers. He signed a one-year deal with the team heading into his 21st season, envisioning a graceful exit-maybe a farewell tour, maybe one last playoff run, certainly a chance to suit up and contribute in a limited role.
But that reunion never materialized.
In a surprising move, the Clippers removed Paul from the roster early in the season. He wasn’t waived or bought out, but he was effectively shut out-no games, no practices, no role.
Eventually, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him shortly thereafter. And just like that, one of the most respected veterans in the game was done.
It was a jarring way to exit for a player who gave so much to the game-and to that franchise in particular. Paul may not have gotten the sendoff he envisioned, but his final full season in San Antonio offered a different kind of closure: one rooted in mentorship, professionalism, and quiet leadership.
A Legacy Bigger Than a Ring
Chris Paul will always be part of the "best to never win a title" conversation, but that label doesn’t define him. He changed the way the point guard position is played.
He elevated every team he joined. And he leaves the game as one of the most respected voices in the league, both on the court and in the locker room.
From New Orleans to Houston, Oklahoma City to Phoenix, and everywhere in between, Paul’s fingerprints are all over the modern NBA. His leadership, precision, and relentless competitiveness made him a force for over two decades.
The final chapter may not have gone as scripted, but the book on Chris Paul? It’s a classic.