40 years old! Paul announces his retirement date! Farewell, the God of Point Guards!

The day has inevitably arrived.

Paul posted on his personal social media: “Returned to North Carolina, what a wonderful journey it has been, still filled with many bittersweet feelings, truly thankful for this last leg.”

The renowned insider Shams stated,Paul will announce his retirement once this season concludes. Ticketing platforms show that Paul’s final regular season game will be on April 13 next year, when the Clippers host the Warriors, with minimum ticket prices climbing to $129.

Old friend LeBron shared a photo on his social media of Paul biting his gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, captioning it: “The God of Point Guards, what an exhilarating journey this has been.”

Born on May 6, 1985, Paul was the 4th pick in the 2005 draft, standing 1.83 meters tall, now 40 years old. Throughout his NBA career, he has played for the Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs. He was named Rookie of the Year once, selected to All-NBA teams 11 times, made the All-Defensive team 9 times, led the league in assists 5 times, steals 6 times, appeared in 12 All-Star games, and won 2 Olympic gold medals, among many other honors.

If there is one regret in Paul’s career, it’s never having tasted a championship. He came closest in 2021 when he led the Suns to the Finals but lost 2-4 to the Bucks, marking his nearest chance to the title.

This season, Paul returned to the Clippers on a veteran minimum contract worth $3.6 million, but due to his age, he could no longer contribute effectively. He was DNP (Did Not Play) for five consecutive games; feeling “helpless despite the will” was one of the main reasons for his retirement decision. Otherwise, he might not have ended his NBA career after 21 seasons.

Though reluctant to admit it, Paul will likely retire as the greatest player never to win a championship. This season’s Clippers severely disappointed and showed no title-contending strength, largely due to a series of major injuries: Leonard has missed 10 straight games with a foot injury and no return date, Beal’s hip injury ended his season, and Little Jones suffered a right knee MCL sprain...

What else can be said? Wishing Paul all the best to enjoy the rest of his journey, and maybe treat this season as a farewell tour.