All good things must come to an end in the big leagues, no matter how illustrious a player’s career has been.
While former Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul has enjoyed a tremendous two-decade-long NBA career, his miserable start to the 2025-26 season indicates it's time to call it quits.
On Saturday, Paul did just that, announcing that he’ll be retiring after his 21st season concludes.
“Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul is retiring after this season – his 21st campaign in the NBA,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday.
“Paul is a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time member of All-NBA teams, a selection to the 75 greatest players list, a nine-time All-Defense, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.”
“Paul posted on social media this morning: "What a ride...Still so much left...GRATEFUL for this last one!!" Paul returns to his home state of North Carolina as the Clippers play the (Charlotte) Hornets today. His Hall of Fame career officially ends at the end of the season.”
Paul was an exciting young guard with the Hornets to begin his NBA journey, but gained more notoriety upon joining the Clippers for the first time in 2011.
The 40-year-old helped popularize the ‘Lob city’ movement in Los Angeles, as he frequently located DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin in pick-and-roll scenarios and allowed the dynamic high-flyers to take care of the rest.
Paul spent six seasons with the Clippers, but failed to win a title with the franchise despite having an ultra-talented supporting cast.
Paul then spent two seasons with the Houston Rockets, one with the Oklahoma City Thunder, three with the Phoenix Suns, one with the Golden State Warriors (he averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson), and one with the San Antonio Spurs before returning to the Clippers for his final NBA campaign.
Paul is averaging a career-low 2.5 points and 3.3 assists per game with the Clippers during his second stint with the organization.
Still, it shouldn’t change the fact that the Wake Forest product is a bona fide Hall of Famer who was a high-level backcourt asset for several seasons.
More NBA: Warriors' four-time NBA champion coach leaving NBA to coach Sabrina Ionescu in WNBA