Chris Paul confirms NBA retirement after 21 seasons

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After a legendary 21-season NBA career, superstar point guard Chris Paul officially announced that he is hanging up his jersey, confirming the decision on Feb. 13, 2026.

“This is it!” Paul posted on his official social media accounts.

“After over 21 years, I’m stepping away from basketball. I’ve been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It’s crazy even saying that!”

Paul swiftly came to his final decision after the Toronto Raptors waived him from the roster, eight days after the Eastern Conference franchise picked him up from the Los Angeles Clippers via a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets.

While some NBA analysts said that Paul was expected to “get that bag” and sign a veteran minimum one-year contract, Toronto had other plans, deciding not to secure the “Point God” and stick with its youth-laden pool.

Paul was supposed to have a retirement farewell tour with the Clippers that was planned even before the 2025-26 NBA regular season kicked off.

However, everything changed on Dec. 4, 2025, when Los Angeles cut the star floor general from its official lineup hours before the team’s road game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Paul quickly reacted to his release, sharing his sentiments on his official Instagram account after posting: “Just found out I’m being sent home.”

According to multiple reports, it was the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, who pulled the trigger.

Paul’s release came at the organization’s darkest time of the ongoing season, as the Clippers had their worst start in five years with a disappointing 6-16 win-loss record.

However, per ESPN veteran NBA insider Shams Charania, the reason the Clippers shut down Paul’s contract was due to a “leadership clash” with the organization.

Charania explained that Paul had vocally gone off on the team, trying to hold coaches and players accountable amid their struggling NBA start.

Despite the unexpected ending, Paul will go down as one of the most efficient point guards in NBA history, collecting 12 NBA All-Star selections and earning iconic membership on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Paul will retire as the second all-time leader in both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728), behind Utah Jazz cornerstone John Stockton.

“I am so excited to take with me to the next chapter all the incredible things basketball has taught me,” Paul added.

“And the biggest thanks of all goes to the man upstairs. If you know this and are reading, feel free to finish. God is Good, All the Time, and All the Time.”