Chris Paul officially announced his retirement from the NBA on Friday through a social media post. The 2024–25 campaign marked Paul’s 21st season in the league, placing him among the select few players to reach that milestone.
Now 40 and set to turn 41 in May, Paul leaves the game as one of the most accomplished point guards in NBA history. He was a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, and earned nine All-Defensive Team honors, including seven First Team nods. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006, selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games.
Statistically, Paul’s resume is historic. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20,000 points and 10,000 assists, a benchmark later reached by LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. Paul finishes his career second on the NBA’s all-time assists list with 12,552, trailing only John Stockton, while also ranking second in career steals with 2,728.
Despite his individual brilliance and consistent team success, an NBA championship remained elusive. Paul was waived Friday by the Toronto Raptors after being acquired in a February 4 trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. Toronto never expected him to report, fueling brief speculation about whether he might attempt a late-season return with another contender.
The retirement announcement came on the opening day of NBA All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, California, fittingly near the home of the Clippers. Paul is widely regarded as the most influential player in franchise history, having led the team to six winning seasons from 2011–17, including its first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories. He returned to the Clippers as a free agent last July, but his second stint ended quickly, with his final game coming on Dec. 1.
Over his career, Paul played for the New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and the Clippers, spending the final four seasons with four different teams. He is one of just seven players in NBA history to play at least 21 seasons.
Paul is already enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team,” which was inducted as part of the Class of 2025. Individual induction is widely viewed as a formality.
While a championship ring never came, Chris Paul exits the game as one of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever seen, defined by longevity, leadership, and a standard of excellence few have matched.
