There was no farewell tour or even a standing ovation and this was probably the most poetic way that Chris Paul’s exit from the NBA could have happened.
Earlier this season, he hinted that this year would be his last and finally made it official via a social media post, bringing an end to a 21-year career that began in 2005 when the then–New Orleans Hornets selected him fourth overall in the NBA Draft.
Paul retires with 12 NBA All-Star nods, 11-time All-NBA selections (4x First Team), and nine-time All-Defensive team recognitions as well as two Olympic gold medals, the 2006 Rookie of the Year trophy, and recognition as a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team. He is just one of seven players to play at least 21 seasons in the league.
He ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals while becoming the first player to eclipse 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in a career, a club where he has since been joined by LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
However, the gaudy numbers have always come with their fair share of conflict. Paul’s strong locker room presence often rubbed teammates the wrong way and ultimately led to this unceremonious exit from the league.
Last week, he was waived by the Toronto Raptors after being traded from the LA Clippers on February 4. Paul was not asked to report to Toronto as the team explored potential moves to send him to a contender before the deadline. He eventually decided to retire.
It was clear that he was contemplating retirement when he announced his return to the Clippers last July, a sentimental return to the franchise where he spent the most productive years of his career from 2011 to 2017 and became arguably its most accomplished player. The reunion quickly turned sour as he parted ways with the team in early December after reportedly falling out of step with head coach Ty Lue.
Unbeknownst to the world, his final NBA appearance came on December 1, when he logged 14 minutes for the Clippers in a 140–123 loss to the Miami Heat. He finished with eight points, two three-pointers, and three assists in what would become the last game of his career.
Over 21 seasons, Paul suited up for New Orleans, the Houston Rockets, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and the Clippers (Twice). He reached one NBA Finals in 2021 with the Suns and one Western Conference Finals in 2018 with the Rockets.
A championship ultimately eluded him, a gap in his resume that will forever be noted, but should not undermine his place among the league’s all-time great point guards. He falls firmly within the second tier of the greatest floor generals in NBA history—behind the elite class of Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry, Bob Cousy, and Oscar Robertson—but alongside accomplished legends such as Steve Nash, John Stockton, and Jason Kidd.
Paul is already enshrined in basketball history as a member of the 2008 Olympic “Redeem Team” which was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. His individual induction should follow soon enough.
