Shortly after being waived by the Toronto Raptors, Chris Paul announced the end of his basketball career. The “Point God” did so with an emotional statement on Instagram.
“That’s it! After more than 21 years, I am retiring from basketball. As I write this, it’s hard to say what I’m really feeling, but for once (which would surprise most people), I don’t have an answer, lol,” Paul began his statement.
“Above all, I am filled with so much joy and gratitude. Even though this chapter as an ”NBA player” is now over, the game of basketball will forever be embedded in the DNA of my life. I spent more than half of my life in the NBA, spanning over three decades. It’s crazy to even say that! Being able to make basketball my profession was an incredible blessing. It was also one that came with enormous responsibility. I accepted it all. The good and the bad. As someone who is a lifelong learner, I know that leadership is hard and not for the faint of heart. Some will like you, many will not. But the goal was always clear, and my intentions were always honest. (Damn, I love to compete!!),” he explained.
Paul actually wanted to end his career after this season, having signed with his home team, the L.A. Clippers, in the summer. However, due to internal disputes, he was waived in early December and then shipped to Toronto at the trade deadline. On Friday, they announced that they had waived the point guard. Despite this unplanned ending, the 39-year-old is full of gratitude and looked back on the beginning of his career.
Chris Paul looks forward to a new chapter
“It feels really good to know that I have treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my father introduced me to it. It was the very first relationship I ever had. Basketball gave me a reason to get up at 5 a.m. and practice before school. It gave me a reason to find my way to the YMCA even on snowy days, even though the roads were icy. It gave me a reason to always want to beat my big brother as his little brother. It gave me a reason to get good grades so I could even have a chance to play college basketball. It gave me a reason to score 61 points in a game even though my grandfather had just been murdered. He gave me a reason to show up for rehab day after day, after the torn meniscus, the Jones fracture, the dislocated shoulder, and five hand surgeries…,” Paul wrote. After leaving L.A. in 2017, Paul played for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs. Throughout this time, however, his family remained in Los Angeles, which was not always easy for him. “With all the gratitude I can muster, it is now time to be there for others in a different way. This past season, I knew that I could only do that if I was at home with my family. Those six years away were a huge sacrifice for all of us, and I knew it had to come to an end. Today, I know in my heart that the best teammate I can be is for Jada, Chris II, and Cam,“ Paul explained. What happens after his career ends is still up in the air. But Paul is already looking forward to his next chapter: ”I’m incredibly excited to take all the great things basketball has taught me into the next chapter. And more importantly, all the things I’ve learned from the people I’ve had the privilege of meeting through basketball. To all my teammates, coaches, staff, managers, and especially my family: I can’t thank you enough, but the good news is that I finally have a lot more time to start doing that!”
Paul played 21 seasons in the NBA and was named an All-Star twelve times during that time. He ranks second all-time in steals and assists.