Chris Paul just wrapped up his 20th NBA season, and while the 40-year-old still proved he can compete, his future on the court may be short-lived.
Paul, who spent this past season with the San Antonio Spurs, hinted at his timeline during a sit-down with Jemele Hill at the American Black Film Festival in Miami.
“At the most, a year,” Paul said with a chuckle when asked how much longer he planned to play. “I just finished my 20th season, which is a blessing in itself. I’ve been in the NBA for more than half of my life, which is a blessing. But these years you do not get back with your kids, with your family. My granny, who watches every single game that I play every single night, those moments, I just don’t get to see her and hug her, along with all my uncles and aunts as much as I’d love to.”
Paul, a 12-time All-Star, averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game while starting all 82 contests for San Antonio. He shot 42.7 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from deep, one of only three Spurs players to appear in every regular season game.
The future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Spurs last offseason, finally teaming up with Gregg Popovich and playing alongside Victor Wembanyama.
But injuries and setbacks plagued the roster. Popovich missed time after suffering a mild stroke, and Wembanyama was sidelined for the second half of the season with a blood clot in his shoulder.
Despite the challenges, Paul expressed gratitude for his opportunity in San Antonio.
Still, as an unrestricted free agent, he is expected to consider other teams like the Suns or the Clippers, with the Spurs shifting focus to their young backcourt core, now featuring Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.
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