For Chris Paul, 2026 was supposed to be an exciting and emotional year. The Point God had declared that the 2025-2026 campaign would be the final season in his NBA career. A farewell tour was impending, with arenas across the country awaiting their chance to say goodbye to one of the best-ever. That, however, did not happen.
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Paul joined the Los Angeles Clippers this past offseason, setting the stage for a poetic end to his career. After all, it was the franchise with whom he arguably played the best basketball of his career — a six-year stint from 2011 to 2017. But a little into the campaign, on December 3 to be exact, the Clippers decided they had enough of him and effectively asked him to stop turning up.
In February, Paul was traded to the Toronto Raptors, who just days later decided to waive him. That was it for CP3. He called time on his career, leaving the players aghast and fans disappointed.
Players past and present, including Donovan Mitchell, were upset that Paul didn’t get a chance to go out on his own terms.
“I wouldn’t be in the NBA if it wasn’t for Chris Paul… And to see his career end the way it did, I think it’s BS. When you have a guy like that, there’s a level that he has to be held to. He wasn’t given that opportunity, which I think is messed up,” the Cleveland Cavaliers star said.
How did @spidadmitchell feel about @CP3 retirement? Listen to his choice words in Season Diary #5 in @andscape https://t.co/02ykJDTuhJ pic.twitter.com/Uciqt1gIes
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 17, 2026
Mitchell and the players did keep their sentiments in check while commenting on the matter. They did not go all out, calling for the heads of the Clippers’ or the Raptors’ bosses. But fans had nothing to lose.
They kept bashing the Inglewood-based franchise and even flooded the organization’s farewell post for CP3 with hate comments.
“Y’all don’t deserve to post this. Delete,” a fan commented on the X post. “I hope this franchise is in the depths of hell forever,” another stated.
I hope this franchise is in the depths of hell forever pic.twitter.com/sjRsGpZjWR
— OJ (@OJfromOKC) February 14, 2026
Paul did not take shots at the Clippers while announcing his retirement on social media. He simply thanked his teams, teammates, and coaches while reflecting on one of the greatest careers in NBA history.
Yes, Paul retired without a title. But there’s a reason he was labeled “point god” throughout his time in the NBA, which began in 2005 with the New Orleans Hornets. And that will always be his legacy.
