Chris Paul has officially announced his retirement from basketball, posting the news on his Instagram on Friday, bringing an early conclusion to what many anticipated as his farewell tour.
“This is it! After 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball. As I write this, it’s hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don’t have the answer lo!” Paul wrote on Instagram on Friday afternoon. “But, mostly I’m filled with so much joy and gratitude!
“While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life.”
Reports initially emerged on Friday that Paul had been waived by the Raptors. He had been acquired by Toronto from the Los Angeles Clippers via trade on February 4. The Raptors reportedly had no intention of having Paul join the team and were exploring options to trade him again prior to the deadline.
Paul’s last appearance on the court was December 1. The Clippers moved on from him on December 3, following the team’s dismal 5-16 start. Reports indicated a disagreement between Paul and Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. Curiously, despite the team’s decision to part ways, Paul was never formally released. In his 21st season, he posted career-low averages of 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds across 16 games.
Advertisement
Drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Paul amassed an impressive list of accolades, including 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA point guard honors, five times leading the league in assists, and making nine All-NBA Defensive Teams. He was also recognized as a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Adding to his decorated career, he secured two Olympic gold medals as part of the United States men’s basketball team. Throughout his career, he maintained averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds.
Paul shares an exclusive statistical achievement with the Lakers’ LeBron James, being the only players to reach both 20,000 career points and 10,000 career assists. Furthermore, Paul became only the 11th player in NBA history to compete for 20 seasons in the league.
Beyond his recent, short period with the Raptors and his second go-around with the Clippers, Paul’s extensive career included playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets. He originally began his storied career with the New Orleans Hornets.
Advertisement
With the Warriors, he experienced playing as a reserve for the first time in his professional career. The following year, while with the Spurs, Paul achieved a unique milestone: becoming the first player to start all 82 games so late into his career. Notably, this marked only the second time in his entire career that he participated in every single game of a season.
Despite his significant achievements and remarkable longevity in the league, Paul’s career ultimately concluded without a Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. His sole NBA Finals appearance came in 2021, where he and the Phoenix Suns were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Further updates to this story will be provided as new information becomes available.