Spurs' Chris Paul Stance on Retirement Plans changes tune.
Spurs’ Chris Paul Stance on Retirement Plans changes tune. Chris Paul is a lock for the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to hang up his sneakers, but exactly when that’ll happen is still up in the air.
Even though the San Antonio Spurs guard is just a couple of months away from turning 40—making him the second-oldest player in the league—Paul isn’t ready to set a retirement date. That said, he’s at least thinking about it now, which is a shift from previous years.
“I don’t know when, but I do know that I miss my family,” Paul told Taylor Rooks in a recent interview. “This is my 20th season, and I’m beyond grateful for the journey. But my kids are 15 and 12, and they’ve never really known what it’s like to have me around all the time. They might not love it,” he joked, “but I always say I wouldn’t have made it to the NBA without my parents, especially my dad, who used to tie one of my hands behind my back to make me dribble with my left. Not being there for my kids’ games, except in the summer, hits differently as I get older.”
At this point, the only active NBA player older than Paul is his close friend LeBron James, who turned 40 in December. Only 32 players in league history have suited up at that age, including LeBron.
Unlike James, who’s still playing at an All-NBA level, Paul’s role has diminished over the past few seasons. He’s putting up career lows this year, averaging just 8.9 points and 7.9 assists in 28.5 minutes per game—numbers that would’ve been unthinkable for him a few years ago. Before last season, he had never averaged fewer than 10 points or played less than 30 minutes per game. Spurs’ Chris Paul Stance on Retirement Plans changes tune.
Still, Paul’s impact on the young Spurs roster goes beyond the box score. He was brought in to be a veteran leader and mentor, especially for rising stars like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan—all of whom are 25 or younger.
It’s been a tough season for San Antonio, though. Wembanyama has dealt with injuries, and head coach Gregg Popovich had to step away for a while after suffering a stroke. The team is slipping further down the standings and looks poised to miss the playoffs again. With all that uncertainty, this could very well be Paul’s only season in a Spurs uniform.
After San Antonio made a big trade for De’Aaron Fox, Paul—who’s on a one-year, $10.5 million deal—might start weighing his options. There are definitely teams that could use a savvy veteran like him, but unless he signs with another rebuilding squad with cap space, he may have to take a pay cut.
One thing’s for sure: Whether it’s this summer or a year or two down the line, Paul knows his time in the league isn’t infinite. For now, though, he’s just focused on playing, mentoring, and making the most of whatever time he’s got left.
