Chris Paul Retires, Leaving Behind the Numbers of an All-Time Great

The point guard was a leader in points, assists, and steals, and throughout his career, teams improved when he joined them and suffered when he left.

Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers watches from the bench during a game against the Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2025. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

What was expected to occur at the end of the 2025-26 NBA season happened a few months sooner, as on Friday, Chris Paul announced his retirement. The 40-year-old said, “This is it! After over 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball” in a social media post, wrapping up a career that will undoubtedly have him enshrined in the pro basketball Hall of Fame.

While Paul will forever be on the short list of greatest players to never win an NBA championship, one should, instead, focus on what he achieved. “The Point God” was a statistical marvel throughout his 21-year career.

23,058 Points

For someone never thought of as a scorer, Paul sure had a knack for putting the ball in the hoop. He was still averaging double figures as late as a 37-year-old in 2022-23, which gave him 18 straight years of doing so. Paul’s career point total makes him the fourth-highest scoring point guard in NBA history, trailing only Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and Steph Curry.