'Point God' Chris Paul officially announces retirement

It is truly unfortunate that one of the greatest playmakers in the basketball world never secured an NBA championship throughout his career.

Legendary point guard Chris Paul has formally declared his retirement after 21 seasons at the highest level. The announcement was posted by "CP3" on his personal page recently, marking the end of one of the most outstanding careers in NBA history.

"It's over! After 21 years, I am stepping away from basketball."Paul wrote. At 40 years old, he chose to retire to spend more time with his family — something he had often struggled with due to missing important moments with his children because of a demanding schedule.

For over two decades, Chris Paul has been regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time. He appeared in 12 All-Star games, was selected 11 times to the All-NBA teams, made 9 All-Defensive teams, won the Rookie of the Year award in 2006, and earned 2 Olympic gold medals. Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists (12,552) and steals (2,728), and is among the first players to reach 20,000 points alongside 10,000 assists.

Before announcing his retirement, Paul was waived by the Toronto Raptors after being traded from the LA Clippers. The Raptors did not require him to join the team, and speculation about him seeking a new team to chase the only missing title in his career ended quickly with his retirement decision.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his gratitude: "Chris Paul retires as one of the greatest point guards in history and a dedicated contributor to the sport." He also emphasized the leadership role of the "Point God" as President of the Players Association, especially during the NBA's 2020 "bubble" season amid the pandemic.

During his career, Paul played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Clippers. He was the heart of the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, forming the memorable "Lob City" alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.