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Former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA on social media Friday.
"This is it!" Paul wrote on Instagram. "As I write this, it's hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don't have the answer! But, mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude!"
The Toronto Raptors waived the 12-time All-Star earlier in the day amid Paul's 21st season in the league.
The move was expected after Toronto acquired Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets at last week’s trade deadline. The trade for Paul, in the eyes of the Raptors, was done for financial reasons.
Paul, 40, plans to retire at season’s end.
Signed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract last offseason, Paul rejoined a Clippers franchise with which he spent six seasons from 2011-17. This season, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games off the bench. He has not played in a game since Dec. 1.
Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists with 12,552 and second in steals with 2,728, trailing only Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton in both categories.
MUSSATTO: Nikola Topic's NBA debut was 600 days in the making after ACL tear, cancer battle
Paul, then with New Orleans/OKC, was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, five-time NBA assists champion and six-time steals champion. A member of seven first-team All-Defensive teams, he also was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game.
Paul won Olympic gold medals with the United States in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012 and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021.
He played with New Orleans for six seasons, then was traded to the Clippers in 2011. He later played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and San Antonio Spurs (2024-25).
Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 1,370 games (1,314 starts). He has not won an NBA title, getting to the Finals only once when his Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
More: Ousmane Dieng fuels Milwaukee Bucks past Nikola Topic, Thunder in return to OKC
–Field Level Media
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chris Paul announces NBA retirement after 21 seasons: 'This is it'
Continue reading...
"This is it!" Paul wrote on Instagram. "As I write this, it's hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don't have the answer! But, mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude!"
The Toronto Raptors waived the 12-time All-Star earlier in the day amid Paul's 21st season in the league.
The move was expected after Toronto acquired Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets at last week’s trade deadline. The trade for Paul, in the eyes of the Raptors, was done for financial reasons.
Paul, 40, plans to retire at season’s end.
Signed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract last offseason, Paul rejoined a Clippers franchise with which he spent six seasons from 2011-17. This season, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games off the bench. He has not played in a game since Dec. 1.
Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists with 12,552 and second in steals with 2,728, trailing only Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton in both categories.
MUSSATTO: Nikola Topic's NBA debut was 600 days in the making after ACL tear, cancer battle
Paul, then with New Orleans/OKC, was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, five-time NBA assists champion and six-time steals champion. A member of seven first-team All-Defensive teams, he also was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game.
Paul won Olympic gold medals with the United States in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012 and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021.
He played with New Orleans for six seasons, then was traded to the Clippers in 2011. He later played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and San Antonio Spurs (2024-25).
Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 1,370 games (1,314 starts). He has not won an NBA title, getting to the Finals only once when his Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
More: Ousmane Dieng fuels Milwaukee Bucks past Nikola Topic, Thunder in return to OKC
–Field Level Media
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chris Paul announces NBA retirement after 21 seasons: 'This is it'
Continue reading...
