The 2025-26 NBA season will be the final year for veteran star Chris Paul. The 12-time All-Star announced his retirement on Saturday, that he will end his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul will end his legendary career after his 21st season in the league. His former teammate and current head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick, had some jokes for the former Wake Forest star.
Paul has had an iconic time in the league. He started playing in 2005 and quickly established himself as one of the best backcourt stars, winning the Rookie of the Year award. He made an impact with the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
The only accolade that he’s been longing for is the Larry O’Brien trophy.
When asked about Chris Paul’s looming retirement, Redick joked that he wishes his former teammate doesn’t win a championship.
“I hope he doesn’t win an NBA championship because that would mean the Clippers win an NBA championship and we don’t,” he said. “But to me he is an ultimate winner.
“There are guys who have won championships that I wouldn’t say are winning players and there are who have nevr won a championship, but to me are the ultimate winners. That’s who Chris Paul is, he’s the ultimate winner.”
The first of the Clippers’ four games this season will take place on Tuesday against the Lakers. The last time Paul will face Redick and his close friend, LeBron James, will be on Feb. 20.
JJ Redick’s relationship with Chris Paul evolved throughout the years
Chris Paul and JJ Redick didn’t start as friends. During their time in college, they had a rivalry that carried over into the NBA. But they found their way as teammates with the Clippers in 2013. That became the start of their friendship.
“I’m not going to craft a narrative, I just know him as a human being, a teammate and a brother,” Redick said. “The arc of our relationship is very interesting from going to a decade plus of quite literally hating each other to feeling like he is a part of my family.
“Getting to watch him evolve as a player, as a competitor, as a leader in the later stages, particularly after I retired, has actually been really fun for me.”
Redick told the media that Paul’s impact in the league will be missed once he steps away from the game.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
