Photo: Getty Images

By Daryl Oclares

Los Angeles Clippers veteran guard Chris Paul announced that he will retire at the end of the current NBA season, closing the curtain on a legendary 21-year run.

Paul, 38, revealed in an Instagram post that this season will be his last—timed fittingly on the day he faces the franchise that drafted him, the Charlotte Hornets, early Monday morning (Manila time).

“Back in NC!!! What a ride... Still so much left... GRATEFUL for this last one!!*” Paul wrote, sharing a highlight reel featuring every stop of his iconic career: New Orleans/Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs.

Paul’s retirement punctuates one of the most decorated resumes in league history. Since entering the NBA in 2005, he has earned 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defense honors, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year award—all while establishing himself as one of basketball’s premier playmakers and leaders.

Paul first captured national attention during his electrifying rookie campaign, and over the next two decades he became a model of consistency, competitiveness, and professionalism. His place among the game’s elite was further cemented in 2021 when he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.