After a remarkable 21-year career, Chris Paul has declared that the 2025–2026 NBA season will be his final one. Just before a game in his home state of North Carolina, the 40-year-old point guard, who has long been known as “CP3” and is a potential Hall of Famer, announced the announcement on social media, describing his farewell tour as “what a ride” and expressing his sincere thanks for everything the game has given him.

Paul is remarkably consistent and long-lived. After being selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, he made an early impression and was named Rookie of the Year. He played for several teams throughout the course of two decades, including the Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs. It is only natural that he returns to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team he spent his most memorable tenure with.

Paul’s career ranks among the all-time greats statistically. He is only surpassed by the great John Stockton in terms of total assists and steals in NBA history. In addition to being selected to the All-NBA team eleven times and receiving nine All-Defensive selections, he led the league in assists five times and steals six times. His all-around skill is demonstrated by his per-game averages of 16.9 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. He was a part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team and an All-Star twelve times.

Even though his resume was absolutely incredible, the one championship that he was unable to win is often the first thing that people bring up when discussing his legacy. It is highly probable that he will never win an NBA title in his career and will likely depart without that coveted ring, unless he has an incredible season. On the other hand, a large number of people argue that his excellence cannot be characterized in this way.

Paul has demonstrated an exceptional ability to enhance the performance of teams during the course of his career, particularly when the game is nearing its conclusion. He was able to assist teams in transitioning from poor to extraordinary levels of performance throughout critical junctures by transforming the way they performed under pressure. Despite the fact that he has never won a title, he has been able to exert a great deal of influence. He was an intellectual floor general with a selfless manner, a specialist at regulating tempo and executing under duress, and a leader on the court.

Heartbreak was something that Paul experienced as part of his work. Injuries, missed opportunities, and early playoff eliminations all contributed to the sealing of his fate. On the other hand, a significant number of commentators maintain that his greatness originates from the proficiency and consistency that he showed every single night, as opposed to his weaknesses. After the majority of athletes have retired, he carried on playing at an elite level for a considerable amount of time. He adjusted his style of play and took on additional duties as his career continued to advance.

Fans have the opportunity to honor his contributions to the game on his final trip with the Clippers. These days, it’s more about the legacy of a player who changed the point guard position via skill, cunning, and unshakable determination than it is about wins and defeats.

Despite not having a ring, Chris Paul will go down as one of the NBA’s greatest winners—not because of titles won, but rather because of everything he accomplished during his career.

The betting markets may be impacted by Chris Paul’s upcoming retirement, especially in futures and prop bets. His proclaimed final year for the 2025–26 season gives every game he plays, especially his final appearances, more emotional weight. Given that he is expected to play significant minutes during memorable moments, bettors may find value on “farewell game” props like over/unders on his assists or points.

Long-term wagerers should think about underweighting the Clippers’ chances of making a deep playoff run since, despite Paul’s crucial leadership, his diminished position makes it unlikely that he will significantly alter title odds. On the other hand, there may be value in markets relating to legacy or the Hall of Fame: Paul is almost certain to be inducted due to his professional achievements, and those who place their bets early on first-ballot Hall of Fame futures might lock in excellent odds right away.