The 12-time All-Star never suited up for Toronto, but he announced that his legendary career has come to a close after his release.
Before the NBA trade deadline just over a week ago, it was clear that the Toronto Raptors were going to make some sort of deal to get under the first apron and avoid paying luxury tax. What most NBA fans didn’t expect was for them to acquire 12-time All-Star Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers.
What may have been even more surprising to fans around the world was that Raptors general manager Bobby Webster told Paul and his agent not to report to Toronto, and that he would be either traded again or waived. While it took eight days after the deadline, the Raptors officially released the Hall-of-Fame-bound point guard early this morning.
Former Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) | © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Paul announced back in November that his 21st season in the NBA would officially be his last. Many fans expected a celebratory farewell tour on the team with which he was the most successful in LA, however the Clippers had other ideas. The former No. 4 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft was sent home just weeks later on Dec. 3rd.
After being waived by the Raptors, Paul released a statement on his Instagram, officially announcing his immediate retirement.
“This is it!” said Paul. “After over 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball … While this chapter of being an “NBA player” is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life.”
The heartfelt, four-page-long Instagram post was a true testament to Paul’s character and love for the game. As a member of the NBA’s Top 75 Players of All Time, it feels wrong and unfair that fans didn’t get to enjoy one last game of his legendary career.
He may have never played a game for the Raptors, but he was seen as an impactful player all the way until the end. While it appears the Clippers organization viewed him as the problem in the first two months of his final season, the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon was responsible for turning teams around or serving as a veteran for young prospects.
While he was with the Houston Rockets, he helped get James Harden and company the closest they had gotten to winning a championship, which was losing in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors in 2018. In his single season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he brought them to the playoffs and guided Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the direction of being a future MVP and Finals MVP winner.
Chris Paul and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) | © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
In Phoenix, the 11-time All-NBA selection made it to his first and only NBA Finals before ultimately falling short to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Simultaneously, he helped Devin Booker continue his ascension to superstardom and brought out the best of his teammates, like Deandre Ayton, in the process. Finally, last season with the San Antonio Spurs, he used his veteran leadership to guide Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle to the rising stars they are becoming this season.
One of the greatest of all time at the point guard position, Paul will forever be immortalized in NBA history. His jersey should be hung at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, and he will, without a doubt, be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. Unfortunately, he started the beginning of the end of the superstar era, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and others. The NBA won’t be the same without him! Thank you for an unbelievable career, former Toronto Raptor CP3!