After more than two decades of wearing No. 3 across his chest, Chris Paul is walking away from basketball.
The former Clippers point guard, known as CP3 and “Point God,” announced his retirement Friday on social media.
“This is it!” Paul, 40, wrote. “After over 21 years, I’m stepping away from basketball. As I write this, it’s hard to really know what to feel, but for once – most people would be surprised – I don’t have the answer LOL!”
Paul’s announcement came shortly after the Toronto Raptors officially waived him a week after the Clippers traded him before the deadline. While it was widely known that he was going to retire at the end of this season, the Clippers parted ways with Paul after they sent him home from a road trip in December.
“I’m filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life,” Paul said. “I’ve been in the NBA for more than half my life, spanning three decades. It’s crazy even saying that!!”
Paul joined the Clippers last summer, returning to the team he had turned into a contender after years of languishing at the bottom of the league, leading the “Lob City” squad to one of its greatest runs in franchise history. The Clippers reached the playoffs six times in Paul’s six seasons after making a total of seven postseason appearances in their first 41 years of existence.
Paul’s final NBA game was Dec. 1 against Toronto, posting eight points and three assists in 15 minutes off the bench, leaving the NBA as one of the most accomplished point guards in league history.
Paul was named to the All-Star team 12 times, the All-NBA team 11 times and the All-Defensive team nine times. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is one of eight players to have at least 20 combined All-Star and All-Defensive team selections.
The 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year, he ranks second to former Utah Jazz great John Stockton in career assists (12,552) and steals (2,728). Paul was the first NBA player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists; LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have both reached those marks now as well.
“After 21 remarkable seasons, Chris Paul retires as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and a true steward of our sport,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “From the moment he entered the league, Chris distinguished himself with his savvy playmaking skills, elite competitiveness and intense work ethic.”
In addition to the Clippers, Paul played for New Orleans, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio during his career, spending the last four years with four different teams.
He also was a past president of the Players Association – instrumental in getting the league through the bubble season when the COVID pandemic struck in 2020 – and championed the NBA establishing better ties with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was 4 years old, and there’s nothing other than my family that brings me more joy than the hard work and all that stuff that goes into it,” Paul said in 2024. “Yeah, that’s why we get to play a child’s game and say it’s my way of life.”
On Friday, Paul called playing basketball for a living “an unbelievable blessing that also came with a lots of responsibility. I embraced it all.”
