The NBA world saw one of the greatest players in history hang up his sneakers last weekend when Chris Paul officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. From his stellar debut with the New Orleans Hornets to his final full season with the San Antonio Spurs, the guard who quickly became known as "CP3" finished his NBA career as arguably the greatest point guard of all time.
Chris Paul spent six full seasons with the LA Clippers franchise, from when he was traded to Los Angeles in 2011 until he was traded to the Houston Rockets in the 2017 offseason.
Of the 249 teammates Chris Paul shared the floor with during his 20-year NBA career, no one played more games with Paul than former Clippers All-Star center DeAndre Jordan. The two played 406 regular season games together in addition to 53 playoff games. The two had a .658 winning percentage, going 302–157 together in those 459 games.
Paul announcing his retirement in the middle of All-Star weekend was somewhat of a surprise, given that the guard was looking for a team to play for and was ending his NBA career. But no team formed and Paul decided to call it quits.
Just weeks after his former teammate announced his official retirement, DeAndre Jordan shared a touching message on Instagram on Friday.
"Can't believe I'm making a retirement post for your old man! I still remember when we found out we were getting CP3 and the "Lob City" run was born. It still feels like yesterday. Some of the greatest years of my life.
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your amazing basketball career! You have won countless accolades and done a lot for the game. However, the greatest achievement that I have seen in you is your love and dedication towards your family.
Thank you for always encouraging me, even when I wasn't trying to hear it. ??? You were teammates then and have become brothers forever and I'm grateful.
Enjoy this next chapter of life and the journey. Here's to more pars and birdies! to encourage
– 6″
DeAndre Jordan was the full-time starter for the Clippers when Chris Paul arrived, but under head coach Doc Rivers, became a 34-minute-per-night player for the Clippers starting in the 2013–14 season. From the 2023–14 season where he played with CP3, Jordan averaged 11.8 points, 14 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while being named to his first NBA All-Star team in the 2016–17 season. Jordan was also a two-time rebounding champion, a three-time All-NBA selection and a two-time All-Defensive Team selection.
Chris Paul finished his NBA career playing 1,370 career games in the regular season, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. Paul finished his illustrious, 20-year NBA career as a 12-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA member, nine-time All-Defensive Team member, six-time steals champion, and five-time assists champion.
