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Earlier this month, Chris Paul announced that he was retiring from the NBA while still in his 21st season – it was the second time news about him rocked the basketball world. The first time came in early December after the Los Angeles Clippers dismissed Paul while being in the middle of a five-day road trip. It was a painful, messy basketball divorce.
“We are parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be a part of the team,” Clippers executive Lawrence Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
This statement left the NBA speechless. Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in league history. Despite never winning a championship ring, he left a profound impact on every franchise he represented and on countless teammates. Nicknamed the “Point God,” he built his reputation on elite passing – becoming a five-time assist champion – surgical court vision, and an unwavering competitive drive that led him to be selected to the All-NBA team 11 times in his 21 year-career.
At just six feet tall, the North Carolina native understood he had to develop skills and tools to compensate for his height deficit and get separation from other playmakers. And so, he did – Paul mastered ball-handling, developed a lethal mid-range jumper, and became a disruptive defender, eventually becoming a nine-time All-Defensive team selection and six-time Steal Champion.
For more than two decades, he embodied consistency, repeatedly proving himself a generational talent, eventually leading him to become part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Paul played two years at Wake Forest University in his home state. After a couple of stunning seasons, he declared for the 2005 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Hornets selected him as the fourth overall pick. During his inaugural professional campaign, the star point guard averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
CP3 spent six seasons in New Orleans before they traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. There, he formed a dynamic trio with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan; they became notorious for their fast-paced offense. Often punctuated by spectacular alley-oops, they became known as “Lob City.”Paul orchestrated the offense; Griffin and Jordan finished above the rim. The Clippers were entertaining and competitive, but they never broke through to the NBA Finals.
Earlier this month, Chris Paul announced that he was retiring from the NBA while still in his 21st season – it was the second time news about him rocked the basketball world. The first time came in early December after the Los Angeles Clippers dismissed Paul while being in the middle of a five-day road trip. It was a painful, messy basketball divorce.
“We are parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be a part of the team,” Clippers executive Lawrence Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
This statement left the NBA speechless. Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in league history. Despite never winning a championship ring, he left a profound impact on every franchise he represented and on countless teammates. Nicknamed the “Point God,” he built his reputation on elite passing – becoming a five-time assist champion – surgical court vision, and an unwavering competitive drive that led him to be selected to the All-NBA team 11 times in his 21 year-career.
At just six feet tall, the North Carolina native understood he had to develop skills and tools to compensate for his height deficit and get separation from other playmakers. And so, he did – Paul mastered ball-handling, developed a lethal mid-range jumper, and became a disruptive defender, eventually becoming a nine-time All-Defensive team selection and six-time Steal Champion.
For more than two decades, he embodied consistency, repeatedly proving himself a generational talent, eventually leading him to become part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Paul played two years at Wake Forest University in his home state. After a couple of stunning seasons, he declared for the 2005 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Hornets selected him as the fourth overall pick. During his inaugural professional campaign, the star point guard averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
CP3 spent six seasons in New Orleans before they traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. There, he formed a dynamic trio with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan; they became notorious for their fast-paced offense. Often punctuated by spectacular alley-oops, they became known as “Lob City.”Paul orchestrated the offense; Griffin and Jordan finished above the rim.
The Clippers were entertaining and competitive, but they never broke through to the NBA Finals.