NBA veteran and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul is set to hang up his sneakers at the end of the 2025-26 season, calling time on a storied career. Confirming his retirement plans through a social media post featuring career highlights and a sentimental caption that reads, "Back in NC!!! What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!", as reported by CBS News. Paul, who rejoined the Clippers this offseason, has had a significant impact on the league since being drafted fourth overall by the then-New Orleans Hornets back in 2005.
The announcement was timely as it came ahead of the Clippers' game against the Hornets in Charlotte, with Paul being a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Despite entering the league with much fanfare, the 40-year-old's minutes have declined this season. Paul has appeared in just 10 out of 15 games, averaging 13 minutes and 2 points per contest, while the Clippers have struggled with a disappointing 4-11 record, as noted by The New York Times via The Athletic. The decision underscores an acknowledgment from the point guard of the inevitable progression of time and the toll it takes on an athlete's body, irrespective of their legendary status.
Regarded as one of basketball's finest point guards, Paul's accolades include 12 All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA selections, and nine All-Defense nods. His career highlights also feature two Olympic gold medals and the honor of being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. With achievements that rival the greats, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania also acknowledged Paul's standing second only to John Stockton in career assists and reported that Paul was the first player to score at least 20,000 points and record 10,000 assists, according to KTLA.
In a career that spanned more than two decades, Paul’s impact on each franchise he played for was felt. After his initial stint with the Hornets, he moved to LA, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and had short tenures with Golden State and San Antonio before returning to the Clippers. Despite the impressive stats, a championship title evaded him, with the closest call being a loss in the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. His wife, Jada Paul, also took to Instagram, stating her husband has had a "helluva career," a sentiment echoed by fans and commentators alike, as NBC Los Angeles highlighted.
With retirement on the horizon, Paul will look to close out his final season in the league he helped shape for over two decades. His impact spanning several franchises and across eras of the game—certainly to be remembered long after the final buzzer of his career sounds.
