Chris Paul announced that he is now retired from basketball in an Instagram post today. Paul, 40, was a 21-year veteran whose accolades include 11 All-NBA Selections, 12 All-Star Selections, nine All-Defensive Selections, two Olympic Gold Medals, and a spot on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
The celebrated Point Guard played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs, collecting 23,058 Points and retiring second all-time in Steals (2,728) and Assists (12,552). He is also a six-time Steals Leader, a five-time Assists Leader, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and finished in the top ten in MVP voting ten times.
Paul had stated that this would be his last season, but he was unceremoniously told that he would no longer be on the roster after the Clippers’ December 1st loss to Miami. He was traded to the Raptors weeks later, but it was nothing more than a salary move for both teams.
While this was not the way that CP3 expected his career to end, his run in basketball has few peers. Already a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with the 2008 Olympic Redeem Team, Paul is a lock to enter the Hall individually. He is eligible in 2029.
Thank you, Chris, for the memories!
