Chris Paul, the 40-year-old point guard widely regarded as one of the NBA's greatest, announced his retirement on Friday after being waived by the Toronto Raptors. The 12-time All-Star ends a career spanning three decades without an NBA championship but with second-place rankings in all-time assists and steals. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Paul as a steward of the sport and future Hall of Famer.
Chris Paul made his retirement official on February 13, 2026, via an Instagram post shortly after the Toronto Raptors waived him. The move followed a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, where Paul had returned for what he intended as a farewell season. He had not played since December 1, 2025, when the Clippers lost 140-123 to the Miami Heat; in 16 games that year, Paul averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," Paul wrote. "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! But, mostly 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 engrained in the DNA of my life. I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades."
Drafted fourth overall in 2005 by the New Orleans Hornets out of Wake Forest, Paul played for eight teams: Hornets, Clippers (twice), Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and briefly the Raptors. Over 1,370 regular-season games and 149 playoff appearances, he averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. His totals include 23,058 points (41st all-time), 12,552 assists (second all-time behind John Stockton), 6,006 rebounds, and 2,728 steals (second all-time).
Paul earned 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA honors, nine All-Defensive teams, 2006 Rookie of the Year, five assists titles, six steals titles, and All-Star Game MVP. He won Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 with Team USA. Despite reaching the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns—where they led 2-0 before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks—Paul never won a championship, though he led five teams to 15 postseasons.
Former teammate Austin Rivers called Paul "a top-five point guard to ever touch the ball," crediting him for teaching professionalism and competitiveness. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated, "After 21 remarkable seasons, Chris Paul retires as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and a true steward of our sport." Paul, who also served as NBPA president, leaves as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
