Chris Paul entered the 2025-26 NBA season looking to chase a championship with the Los Angeles Clippers after signing with them in the offseason to finish out his NBA career.
Of course, Paul’s stint in Los Angeles this season did not go as planned as the Clippers parted ways with the veteran point guard early in the season due to his criticism of the front office after the team’s poor start.
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3)Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
(Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)
Despite Los Angeles parting ways with Paul, they kept him on their roster until the trade deadline where they sent him to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team trade that saw Toronto send Ochai Agbaji to the Brooklyn Nets.
On Friday, Paul’s stint in Toronto came to an end as ESPN’s Shams Charania announced that the Raptors had waived the 40-year-old guard after they did not require him to report to the team.
After his release from the Raptors on Friday, many around the NBA wondered what would be next for the future Hall of Fame point guard and he quickly made a decision regarding his NBA career.
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Chris Paul Announces Retirement After Release From Raptors
On Instagram, Paul posted a message announcing his retirement from the NBA, ending his 21-year career.
Former Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
“This is it! After over 21 years I’m stepping way from basketball,” Paul posted on Instagram. “While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life.”
For Paul, his retirement tour this season came to an early end as he officially announced his retirement from the NBA, ending a 21-year career that was spent with seven different teams.
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Of course, Paul entered the NBA in 2005 after he was selected fourth overall by the then New Orleans Hornets, where he played the first six years of his career.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Chris Paul (3)Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
The star guard was then traded to the Clippers in 2011 where he spent seven seasons, creating one of the flashiest trios in the NBA alongside Blake Griffin and De’Andre Jordan.
Paul then signed with the Houston Rockets in 2017 and he also spent time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before returning to the Clippers in the offseason.
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3)Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
(Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images)
Though Paul’s final NBA season was likely not what he had in mind, he ends his career as arguably one of the greatest point guards of all time as he was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection and nine-time All-Defensive team selection.
Paul ends his career averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.0% from three and his next stop will likely be in Springfield, Massachusetts at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.