Chris Paul Hangs Up His Sneakers: End of an Era in the NBA
Santo Domingo – The iconic point guard Chris Paul has announced his retirement from professional basketball, marking the end of a remarkable 21-season career in the NBA. The news, communicated through his social media, comes after his departure from the Los Angeles Clippers, the team with which he concluded his career.
Born in Winston-Salem, Paul, at 40 years old, is widely recognized as one of the best playmakers of the 21st century. His legacy includes 12 All-Star Game appearances and four selections to the All-NBA team.
In addition to his individual achievements, Paul led the NBA in assists for five seasons and retires as the second all-time assist leader (12,552) and steals leader (2,728) in league history, surpassed only by John Stockton.
Known as “CP3”, Paul also made history by being the first player to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists. At the international level, his record includes two Olympic gold medals with the United States in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games, as well as a World Championship bronze in 2006.
Selected in the fourth position of the 2005 draft, Chris Paul began his career with the New Orleans Hornets, before becoming a key figure for the Clippers, a team he led to regularly compete in the playoffs. Subsequently, he played for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs.
His farewell was finalized after a brief final stage with the Clippers, where he played 16 games before being traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Canadian franchise opted to release him after failing to finalize a new trade.
In his farewell message, Paul expressed gratitude and satisfaction for his career, assuring that, although his time as a player has concluded, basketball will continue to be a fundamental part of his life. His retirement marks the end of the career of one of the most influential and respected point guards of his generation, remembered for his leadership and tactical intelligence on the court.
