What Happened to Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr.?

Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr., affectionately known as 'CP3' and 'the Point God,' carved out a legendary 21-season career in the National Basketball Association, establishing himself as one of the sport's premier point guards. Drafted fourth overall in 2005 by the New Orleans Hornets, Paul quickly made an impact, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. His early career in New Orleans, including a period playing in Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina, showcased his exceptional court vision, passing, and defensive prowess.

Paul's career was marked by several significant team changes. After a controversial vetoed trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011, ushering in the 'Lob City' era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Despite consistent playoff appearances and individual accolades, a coveted NBA Finals berth eluded him during his six seasons with the Clippers. He later moved to the Houston Rockets (2017-2019), where he reached the Western Conference Finals, and then had a revitalizing season with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-2020).

A pivotal moment came with his trade to the Phoenix Suns in 2020. There, Paul led a young team to the 2021 NBA Finals, his first and only Finals appearance, though they ultimately lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. During his tenure with the Suns, he achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points and 10,000 assists. After three seasons in Phoenix, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors for the 2023-24 season, where he came off the bench for the first time in his career.

In 2024, Paul signed with the San Antonio Spurs, playing a mentorship role alongside rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama for the 2024-25 season, starting all 82 games and continuing to climb the all-time assists and steals lists. His career then took a surprising turn in July 2025, when he returned to the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year veteran minimum contract for what was anticipated to be his final season. However, this reunion was short-lived and reportedly fraught with tension, leading to Paul being sent home by the team in early December 2025 after just 16 appearances.

On February 4, 2026, Paul was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal primarily for financial flexibility. The Raptors waived him on February 12, 2026, and the following day, February 13, 2026, Chris Paul officially announced his retirement from the NBA after 21 seasons. He retired as second all-time in career assists (12,552) and steals (2,728). Post-retirement, Paul has shown he still holds strong feelings about his former teams; on April 16, 2026, he notably posted a 'RIP Bozo' meme on Instagram following the Los Angeles Clippers' elimination from the Play-In Tournament, a clear jab at the franchise after his contentious departure.