After 21 seasons, All-Star Chris Paul is calling it quits. The 12-time All-Star announced his decision in conjunction with his release from Toronto, where he landed at the trade deadline as a financial formality.
Chris Paul announces he is officially retiring from basketball after 21 seasons, ending a Hall of Fame career. https://t.co/BJW94AI6EY
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 13, 2026
For Paul, it marks the end of an unceremonious denouement, a final season defined by his failed reunion with the Clippers. Despite being part of numerous playoff teams, he will retire ringless. 2-0 lead in the 2021 Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, when Paul ran point for the Suns, turned out to be the closest he ever came.
Paul posts wistful message to announce conclusion of his playing days
Although it’s a painful way to go out, at least publicly, Paul appears at peace with the decision – one that, in reality, was made for him by the league. He posted a statement on social media to share the news.
Chris Paul says: “This is it.” pic.twitter.com/GcEJ45nelf
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 13, 2026
Paul wraps up his career second all-time in assists, trailing only John Stockton with a tally of 12,552. Those two occupy identical positions atop the all-time leaderboard in steals. Paul, who led the league in assists five times and six times in steals, picked opponents’ pockets 2,728 times in his career.
That Finals trip against the Bucks came in Paul’s first season in Phoenix, where he spent three seasons before leapfrogging from Golden State to San Antonio to Los Angeles in a largely unflattering final act. What his NBA fans will remember, though, a demographic that includes many current players who grew up watching him in New Orleans, are his many seasons as the epitome of a point guard in a league trending further and further away from purebred position types.
A first-ballot Hall of Fame ticket surely awaits Paul not so long from now. What else might his future hold? Although Paul opens his statement saying he is “stepping away from basketball,” might he venture into the world of commentary or coaching? His competitive spirit may bring him back to the game before long.
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