Chris Paul's sudden retirement puts depressing end on legendary career

Legendary point guard Chris Paul announced his retirement on Friday afternoon. Following his release from the Toronto Raptors, it appeared that no team in the NBA had a spot waiting for CP. As a result, Paul had no choice but to call it a career. This tragic event is a complete shot in the heart for basketball fans around the world.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that just a year ago, the point god was playing for the Spurs. While his role as a basketball player was minimal, he left a wave of impact behind him after just one year with the team. With so much love for his time in the Alamo City, it is devastating to see where his career has left him.

Chris Paul deserved better than how he was treated

If there weren't already enough reasons to dislike the Clippers, their handling of Chris Paul's retirement tour has to top the list. Already knowing that the 40-year-old would be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, Los Angeles brought CP3 home and gave him a platform for celebration. Yet still, they completely mistreated him.

During a time of misery, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, the front office decided it was Chris Paul's fault and inexcusably sent him home during the middle of a road trip. It is extremely difficult to validate what the Clippers did, even though it's unclear exactly what happened behind the scenes in LA this season.

I don't care what he did or how bad he was on the court; you don't do that to an NBA legend. Chris Paul has delivered so many amazing moments for NBA fans and has been a staple of the game for two decades. We've criticized him in the past for one reason or another, but he is named the "Point God" for a reason.

Chris Paul deserved a true send-off and was completely robbed of it. His mid-season retirement will go down as one of the most depressing ends to a career we have ever seen.

San Antonio will always cherish Chris Paul's time in the Alamo City

After a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24, Chris Paul became available. We now know that the Spurs were just one step away from excellence at this time. What better way to get there than with the help of an NBA legend?

San Antonio warmly welcomed and treasured Chris Paul. Not only was the seasoned veteran a superior assistant to Victor Wembanyama's development, but he also provided the young guys with a mentor they never truly had after Coach Pop's retirement. I can without a doubt say that the future Hall-of-Famer put in all he had to help propel this young Spurs team into stardom.

I hope that everyone in San Antonio thanks Chris Paul for his assistance in the next great NBA dynasty. It's easy to assume that CP has fingerprints all over the growth of many of the Spurs' players. We will never forget the impact that he had left behind.

Looking back, General Manager Brian Wright should have found a way to hold onto him, given how poorly his time in LA went. Chris Paul deserved a proper goodbye, and now he will leave the game in a way that nobody should have wanted. Here's to a successful retirement and a wonderful life after basketball.