Chris Paul’s retirement draws Adam Silver’s “remarkable” statement

Chris Paul ends his legendary career in the NBA after 21 years. The 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA point guard had a rough final season in the league after his stint with the Los Angeles Clippers ended prematurely and he was waived by the Toronto Raptors on Friday, but Paul will 100 percent be in the Hall of Fame one day.

As a result of his illustrious career and achievements as one of the most influential basketball players ever, Adam Silver and the NBA office announced the following statement about Paul’s retirement.

“After 21 exceptional seasons, Chris Paul is retiring as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and a true steward of our sport,” Silver said in a league statement. “From the moment he entered the league, Chris distinguished himself with his smart playmaking skills, elite competitiveness and intense work ethic.”

“He has also invested tremendous time and energy in his role as President of the Players Association – offering thoughtful and principled perspectives to strengthen our game and our business. His leadership on behalf of the players has been essential in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, helping guide the league through the pandemic, addressing important social issues and more.”

“On behalf of the NBA, I congratulate Chris on his outstanding career and thank him for his friendship, partnership and lasting contribution to our game.”

Paul, 40, ends his career not only with 12 All-Star appearances and 11 All-NBA selections, but also as a nine-time All-Defensive Player who led the league in steals six times in his 21 seasons. The “Point God” also ends his career as a five-assist champion and one of 75 players named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

After the LA Clippers traded him to the Raptors on Feb. 4, Paul didn’t report back to his new team as he figured out what the next step would be. After taking a week to reflect on his career and already declaring that this would be his final NBA season, Paul officially announced his retirement.

Paul finishes his career with career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from 3-point range.