Chris Paul‘s 21st NBA Season was suppose to be the final retirement tour for a legend of the game, a true top 10 Point Guard and one of the best to ever do it. That is everything that didn’t happen. After being waived, then traded by the LA Clippers to the Raptors, Toronto just waived CP3, and it seems like, just an hour later he has had enough, announcing his retirement via Instagram.
The most devastating part of all of this is he was traded and waived just for a “strategic” salary maneuverer, a legendary resume, but a quiet, disrespectful exit.
Chris Paul, The Definition of a Point Guard
If you thought of a pure point guard, guys that facilitate, space the floor and start fast breaks, who would you think of? I am positive names like Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Magic Johnson and John Stockton comes to mind. I would argue Chris Paul is better than 3 of them. His official nickname is the Point God, and he has elevated every franchise he has joined, on and off the court.
He averages 18 PPG, 9 APG, 4 RPG and 2 SPG, elite. Chris Paul 2nd All Time in assists and steals, just behind John Stockton’s ridiculous record.
But the real question everyone has, and why most don’t consider Chris Paul as one of the best is the lack of legit hardware, especially a Championship. He has 0 rings and 1 finals loss with the Suns in 2021, the Clippers never made it, nor Houston, or Oklahoma, or San Antonio or even the Hornets ever even made a single Final, does this single fact limit Chris Paul outside of the Top 5 Point Guards Ever?
Chris Paul’s Resume is Beyond Championships
The lack of a championship is quite sad to see to me, especially seeing this mans resume. Chris Paul across 21 seasons is a 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 9x All-Defensive, part of the NBA 75th Anniversary team, and has led the NBA in assists and steals numerous times, these are the types of stats that make Chris Paul great.
Once again, Chris Paul also has a terrible habit, getting injured at the worst possible times. In many different playoff series, the absence of Chris Paul, their team leader, has been detrimental to the success of his teams, especially in his prime days with the Clippers and Rockets. His availability during when it matters is why I think Durability is the most underrated stat in the NBA.
The Ultimate Mentor, Who Washed Up Fast
Chris Paul, especially in his older years, has become the perfect mentoring coach for many of the young stars we love today. Names like Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and many others have all taken after the Point God, and for good reasons.
Now when I say veteran, I mean it. 21 Years takes a big toll on your body, and in the 2025-26 NBA Season, we all saw the visual decline. 2.9 Points. 3.3 Assists. 1.8 Rebounds. Only 16 Games Played. The Clippers did not see the value in the superstar that even made their franchise relevant again, and after being sent home mid season for reported frictions in the organisation, it is safe to say that CP3 is done.
The Chris Paul Story Arc
The arc of Chris Paul’s career has been nothing short of a dream come true for a kid from North Carolina. He is one of the best players in New Orleans history, bringing them so many deep playoff runs, highlights and owns so many records with the franchise. Lob City Clippers is one of the biggest playoff disappointments, but people still consider them to be one of the best teams ever. The near Houston-Finals, the Suns Finals, where ever CP3 is, winning follows.
Now, like I said before, he was waived in a salary dump. No farewell games for the 13x All-Star, no final game, not even something crazy like guys like LeBron, KD and Curry will get, just a retirement through social media, which is just insane, because when a legend like CP3 doesn’t get a farewell season, let alone game, then it’s get you thinking, what if?
