Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA ahead of the All-Star Weekend on Friday. He concluded his 21-year career after he was traded to the Toronto Raptors by the Los Angeles Clippers. Early in the 2025-26 season, he was sent home by the Clippers as they did not see him fit with what they are trying to do this year.
The Clippers’ move to shut him down and remove him from the rotation was shocking to fans, players and analysts. Although the moment has passed, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith hasn’t let it go. On Monday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith called out the organization for their “disrespectful” decision to let him go.
“It’s disgraceful, what they did to CP3,” Smith said on “First Take.” “It’s not that they let him go. It’s not this lie, this mutual parting of ways, ain’t nobody believing that. To me, it’s that you let him go while you were in Atlanta.
"Yeah I do. … It's disgraceful what [the Clippers] did to CP3."@stephenasmith on if he has a problem with the way Chris Paul's career ended 🏀 pic.twitter.com/nHA4aIjbIo
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 16, 2026
“You could have let him go a week earlier when he was in LA. You could’ve let him go after you came off the road trip. When he was sent home, think about the news stories that came out. It was that he was sent home. How disrespectful can you be?”
Before Chris Paul was let go by the Clippers, he announced earlier that he would retire at the end of the season. A farewell tour was expected for one of the game’s best players. However, he never received a proper sendoff after LA let him go.
A look at Chris Paul’s career
Chris Paul was one of the best players during his prime. He earned 12 All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA selections and nine All-NBA Defensive Teams. Aside from that, he won Rookie of the Year in 2006, the All-Star Game MVP in 2013 and was part of the 75th Anniversary Team.
Although he did not win a championship, he made almost every team he joined better. He led the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans), Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns to the postseason. Additionally, he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in his first year with the team.
Paul finished his career as the second in all-time assists and second in all-time steals. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals.
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