The legendary LA Clippers point guard, Chris Paul, is retiring after this season, marking his 21st campaign in the NBA. The news has generated a great impact in the basketball world, as Paul is considered one of the most emblematic players in recent history. At 40 years old, Paul has amassed an impressive record that includes 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA team appearances, nine All-Defensive team nominations, the Rookie of the Year award in 2006, and a place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. His legacy is undeniable and his impact on the game will endure for generations. Speculation about his retirement had grown, and Paul himself fueled the rumors with a social media post:
The announcement came as the Clippers faced the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina, Paul’s home state. Although he did not make any statements before the game, Paul played, scoring three points and dishing out eight assists in the Clippers’ 131-116 victory. Known as “the God of Ball”, Paul currently leads the NBA in assists and steals among active players and ranks second in both categories in league history, surpassed only by John Stockton. Throughout his career, he has led the league in assists per game on five occasions and in steals for six seasons. In addition, he averaged double digits in assists in seven seasons, demonstrating his ability to direct and generate play. Paul was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft by the New Orleans Hornets, after his time at Wake Forest. Throughout his career, he has averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 assists per game. Along with LeBron James, he is one of only two players in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists. After six years with the Hornets, Paul was traded to the Clippers, where he formed an iconic duo with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, starting the “Lob City” era, the period of sustained success for the franchise. Subsequently, Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he joined James Harden. Although they achieved great success in the regular season, they failed to advance in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in two consecutive seasons. After his time in Houston, Paul was transferred to Oklahoma City, in a move that involved Russell Westbrook. Although he was only there for one season, he was key in mentoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and helped the team reach the playoffs. His time in Oklahoma City was followed by three seasons with the Phoenix Suns, where he reached the NBA Finals in 2021, losing them to the Milwaukee Bucks. After Phoenix, Paul played one season with the Golden State Warriors, mostly as a substitute. Then, he moved to the San Antonio Spurs, where he contributed his veteran presence to a rebuilding team led by Victor Wembanyama. In the offseason, Paul returned to the Clippers, where he has played 11 games. His impact on the game and his leadership will be remembered forever.What a journey… There’s still a lot left… GRATEFUL for this latest one!
Chris Paul
