Chris Paul announces immediate retirement from NBA

Chris Paul is calling it a career.

After being waived by the Raptors on Friday, Paul officially announced his retirement from the NBA in an Instagram post, ending one of the most accomplished point guard runs the league has ever seen.

“This is it!” Chris Paul wrote. “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 ingrained in the DNA of my life.”

That statement closes the book on a career that spanned three decades and seven franchises. Drafted fourth overall in 2005 out of Wake Forest, Paul played 21 NBA seasons, appearing in 1,370 regular-season games and another 149 in the playoffs.

The résumé speaks for itself. Twelve All-Star selections. Eleven All-NBA nods. Nine All-Defensive team honors, including seven first-team selections. Rookie of the Year in 2006. Five assist titles. Six steals titles. A spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

He never won a championship, but his impact on the position is undeniable. Paul set the standard for control, precision, and competitiveness at point guard, carving out a Hall of Fame career built on intelligence as much as talent.