Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov 6, 2025.
Long-time Los Angeles Clippers legend Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA after 21 seasons in an Instagram post on Friday.
“While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life, spanning three decades,” Paul added. “It’s crazy even saying that!! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lost of responsibility. I embraced it all.”
When Paul signed with the Clippers in free agency over the summer, he said the 2025-26 season would be his last. But what he did not know at the time was his final NBA season would be cut short in early December when Los Angeles unexpectedly cut him from the team.
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The final game of his career was a 140-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Dec. 1.
The Clippers traded Paul to the Toronto Raptors just before the NBA deadline. However, it was clear Paul would never actually play in Toronto, and he was not required to report to the team. The Raptors ultimately waived Paul on Friday, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Nov 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What’s Next for Paul?
Paul is already in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame after the 2008 Olympic “Redeem Team” was inducted as part of the 2025 class. But he has certainly earned himself a spot in the Hall of Fame as an individual and will be eligible for induction in 2030.
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He is retiring as a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, a nine-time All-Defensive teams selection, the 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year, two-time Olympic gold medalist and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Paul is also one of seven players in NBA history to play in 21 or more seasons throughout their career.
Now, Paul said he plans to dedicate more time to his family. He said last summer he did not like missing events for his children because of his NBA career. In an interview with People.com, Paul explained that his time away from the Clippers allowed him to start attending his children’s events.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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