Chris Paul Officially Retires After 21 Historic Seasons

Post By DJ Longers
February 13, 2026

“Point God” Bows Out: Chris Paul Officially Retires After 21 Historic Seasons

TORONTO — One of the most brilliant and cerebral eras in basketball history has come to a sudden close. Chris Paul, the legendary floor general widely known as the “Point God,” officially announced his retirement from the NBA today.

The announcement followed a whirlwind series of transactions on Friday morning. Just nine days after being traded to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the 40-year-old veteran was waived by the organization. Minutes later, Paul bypassed the waiver wire and a potential postseason run with a contender, taking to Instagram to confirm that he is hanging up his sneakers for good.

“This is it! After over 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball,” Paul wrote in a heartfelt post. “While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life.”

The Final Chapter

Paul’s 21st season was a turbulent one. After signing a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason—hoping to finish his career where "Lob City" was born—the veteran found himself at the center of reported locker room tensions.

The Clippers sent Paul home in early December before eventually trading him to Toronto on February 4. In his retirement statement, Paul alluded to the challenges of his final months, writing:

“As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won’t. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere.”

A Hall of Fame Résumé

Drafted 4th overall in 2005 out of Wake Forest, Paul’s impact on the game was immediate and enduring. He retires as one of only two players in NBA history (alongside LeBron James) to record over 20,000 points and 10,000 assists.

The CP3 Legacy by the Numbers:

21 Seasons: Spanning seven franchises (Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, Spurs).
12 All-Star Selections and 11 All-NBA Honors.
9-time All-Defensive Selection: Including seven First Team nods.
All-Time Rankings: He finishes 2nd all-time in career assists and steals, trailing only John Stockton.
2 Olympic Gold Medals: (Beijing 2008, London 2012).

While the elusive NBA Championship remained the only missing piece of his trophy case, reaching the Finals once with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, Paul’s reputation as a "culture changer" was undisputed. From New Orleans to Oklahoma City, every franchise he touched saw an immediate and dramatic spike in wins.

What’s Next for the Point God?

As a former president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and a renowned businessman with a net worth estimated at $160 million, Paul is unlikely to stay away from the limelight for long. In his post, he expressed a desire to "show up for others in other ways," specifically mentioning his wife, Jada, and his children, Chris II and Camryn.

“I’ve been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades,” Paul reflected. “It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect.”

With his retirement, the NBA says goodbye to its last true "traditional" point guard, a master of the mid-range, a defensive pest, and a player who viewed the hardwood as a chessboard.