Chris Paul Announces He Will Retire After The 2025-26 NBA Season

With those words, Paul signaled the end of an era, one marked by surgical playmaking, unrelenting leadership, and a near-religious devotion to the art of basketball.

While the veteran has yet to decide where he’ll finish his career, he was clear about one thing: he wants to spend his final year close to home. 

“My wife and my kids are in L.A."

“And I mean, I say this just about every time I talk, but the past six seasons I've played in, where I was in Oklahoma first, then Phoenix for three years, Golden State for a year, and then San Antonio last year, my wife and my kids have been in L.A. all six of those years. So that's tough. I love to play basketball, but I love my kids and my family more.”

That desire has fueled speculation that a Los Angeles reunion could be in the works. The Lakers, now led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James, have been linked to Paul in recent weeks, especially with their need for a stabilizing playmaker off the bench. 

But the Lakers aren’t the only contenders in the mix. The Milwaukee Bucks, having just waived Damian Lillard, are rumored to be interested in Paul to replace the void at point guard and give Giannis Antetokounmpo a veteran floor general to lean on.

Wherever he finishes, Paul will retire as one of the most accomplished point guards in NBA history. Over 20 seasons, he has averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, shooting 47.0% from the field and 37.0% from three. 

His resume is staggering: 12 All-Star selections, four All-NBA First Team honors, five All-NBA Second Team nods, and two on the Third Team. He was a seven-time All-Defensive First Team member and twice more on the Second Team. 

He also led the league in assists five times and in steals six times, showcasing his elite two-way dominance.

Paul currently ranks second all-time in both assists and steals, behind only John Stockton, a feat few imagined would ever be approached in the modern era.

And yet, the only thing missing from his résumé is a championship ring. He came painfully close in 2021, leading the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks. 

There were also heartbreaks with the Clippers and Rockets, particularly in 2018 when a hamstring injury derailed a potential Finals appearance with Houston.

Still, legacy isn’t always measured in rings. Chris Paul’s influence on the game is undeniable. As his final season approaches, fans across the league will be watching, not just to see if he finally captures that elusive title, but to celebrate a career that helped redefine what it means to be a point guard.