Chris Paul stands at a career crossroads as the 12-time All-Star contemplates his basketball future ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
At 40 years old, Paul recently completed his 20th NBA campaign with the San Antonio Spurs, demonstrating remarkable durability by starting all 82 games while contributing 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game.
Family considerations now weigh heavily in Paul’s decision-making process. The veteran point guard revealed on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he has lived apart from his family for six seasons, with his 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter residing in Los Angeles. This separation has become a significant factor as he evaluates his options.
“I want to be dad. I still love to play,” Paul expressed, highlighting the balance he seeks between his passion for basketball and family responsibilities. The future Hall of Famer cherishes moments like recently spending time in the gym working on ball handling with his daughter, experiences he describes as “priceless.”
Paul’s career journey began as the 4th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets. His path has included stops with multiple franchises, building a resume that virtually guarantees first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of the premier point guards in league history.
As free agency approaches, several factors will influence Paul’s decision:
- Geographic location: Proximity to his Los Angeles-based family, which would mean either the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers
- Competitive opportunity: Chance to contribute to a contender
- Role: Position within a team’s rotation
- Leadership impact: Ability to mentor younger players
While Paul clearly wants to continue his playing career, his ideal scenario would allow him to remain close to his children. This geographic preference could potentially narrow his options to West Coast teams, though he hasn’t explicitly ruled out other possibilities.
The basketball world now awaits Paul’s decision, recognizing that his combination of basketball IQ, leadership, and playmaking ability still provides significant value to NBA rosters despite his advanced age in professional sports terms.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.