Chris Paul could be calling it a career.
The 12-time NBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer hinted that retirement could come as soon as next year, revealing in a recent appearance at the American Black Film Festival that his time on the court may be running out.
"At the most, a year," Paul said with a slight chuckle when asked by Jemele Hill how much longer he plans to play.
He added: “I just finished my 20th season, which is a blessing in itself. I’ve been in the NBA for more than half my life… But these years, you don’t get back with your kids, with your family.”
Paul, who turned 40 in May, just completed his 20th NBA season and now enters the 2025 offseason as a free agent.
While he stopped short of officially announcing his retirement, his comments strongly suggest that the 2025–26 season could be his last.
A member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Paul spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs. He started all 82 games — something he hadn’t done since the 2014–15 season with the LA Clippers — and averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 28 minutes.
CP3 provided the steady presence and leadership in guiding a young Spurs roster led by rising star Victor Wembanyama and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Now, Paul is one of the top remaining unsigned veterans in free agency. He has yet to announce where he will play next, but said he will take time to weigh his options and, more importantly, discuss it with his family.
“I always want to talk to my kids about it because that’s the most important job I have,” Paul said. “I love to play. But I definitely love my kids and my family more than I like to play.”
Selected fourth overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the then-New Orleans Hornets, Paul has built a résumé few can match.
He ranks second all-time in both assists (12,499) and steals (2,717), trailing only Utah Jazz legend John Stockton in both categories. CP3 is one of just two players in league history — alongside LeBron James — to record at least 20,000 points and 10,000 dimes.
Paul’s accolades also include five assist titles, six steals titles, 11 All-NBA selections, and 12 All-Star appearances.
While a championship has eluded him — his closest shot coming with the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games — his legacy is already cemented as one of the best pure point guards to ever play the game.
