Overview
- Paul, 40, revealed his decision on Instagram with the message “This is it!” shortly after Toronto waived him following a Feb. 4 trade from the Clippers in which he never reported.
- He leaves with 1,370 regular‑season games and career totals of 23,058 points, 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals, ranking second all‑time in assists and steals with 12 All‑Star selections and 11 All‑NBA honors.
- His final year unraveled after a brief return to the Clippers, where he appeared in 16 games before a December split amid reported friction with coach Ty Lue and was then moved in a salary‑driven, three‑team deal.
- Paul retires without an NBA title, with his closest run coming in 2021 when he led the Suns to the Finals against Milwaukee, and he also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.
- Tributes poured in from across the league, including LeBron James and Klay Thompson, while NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised Paul’s leadership and service as NBPA president from 2013 to 2021.