Chris Paul was removed from the Los Angeles Clippers' roster earlier this season before being traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Hall-of-Fame-bound player has since retired, and his last golden chapter was with the San Antonio Spurs.
After 21 NBA seasons, legendary point guard Chris Paul has officially retired from basketball. Known for spearheading the "Lob City" LA Clippers, making a Finals run with the Phoenix Suns, and revitalizing the OKC Thunder with new phenom Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul never won a title, but he's one of the best players in NBA history.
Paul ends his career with 12 All-Star nods, 11 All-NBA appearances, and nine All-Defensive honors. He led the league in assists five times and steals six times.
In addition to the Clippers, Thunder, and Suns, Paul played for the Hornets, Rockets, Warriors, and Spurs. He will likely be remembered best as a Clipper and Hornet, but the final chapter of his career was all about the Silver and Black.
Chris Paul's Last Real Season Was With Spurs
Paul spent much of his prime with the LA Clippers, where he averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists between 2011-2017. However, the Mavericks, Spurs, and Warriors prevented him from ever making the Finals while in LA, and he would go on to sign with the Rockets.
This season, Paul's 21st, he signed with the Clippers on a one-year deal, expecting to ride out into the sunset with the team where he found his greatest successes. However, in the fall, the Clippers removed him from the roster. He was not waived or bought out, but was not welcome to play or practice with the team.
He would later be traded to the Toronto Raptors, and on Friday, was waived and retired.
How do the Spurs play in? Well, despite him being one of their fiercest rivals for much of his prime, they opened their arms up to him, signing him last season to a one-year deal, hoping that he could help[ inspire the Spurs' young roster.
In his final full season, Paul started all 82 games for the Spurs. He clearly was past his prime, but was the veteran leader San Antonio needed. While the Spurs missed the playoffs last season, the maturity he brought helped lay the groundwork for their rise in the standings.
When he signed with the Clippers--who won 50 games last season--Paul expected to be welcomed back, play a small role, but definitely play. Instead, he was tossed aside like garbage. So much for a farewell tour or one last playoff appearance.
The Spurs, even as one of his biggest career rivals, did more to send him off than the team that he dragged kicking and screaming into relevancy for much of the 2010s.