Chris Paul NBA teams timeline: How the future HOFer point guard played for nine franchises across a 21-year career

Chris Paul retired in February 2026 after playing 21 seasons in the NBA. Known as the “Point God,” he remained effective well into his late 30s and early 40s and built a résumé that makes him a clear Hall of Fame selection. His final months included trades, roster moves, and milestones that reflected both his longevity and the league’s constant turnover.He announced his retirement on February 13, 2026, shortly after the Toronto Raptors waived him. Paul leaves the game as a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, and nine-time All-Defensive pick. Teams that added him typically became more organized and harder to beat in close games.

Chris Paul's Career overview: Consistency and historic production

Chris Paul finished second all-time in assists with more than 12,500 and ranked among the top five in steals. He became the first player in league history to record at least 20,000 points and 10,000 assists and later pushed those totals beyond 23,000 points and 12,000 assists.Over 1,370 games, he recorded 23,058 points, 12,552 assists, and 2,728 steals. The only major achievement missing from his career is an NBA title. He does, however, retire with two Olympic gold medals and a strong influence from his time leading the National Basketball Players Association.His career tracked the evolution of the modern NBA - from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to the Lob City Clippers, Houston’s analytics-driven offense, an unexpected playoff team in Oklahoma City, a Finals run in Phoenix, a short stop in Golden State, a mentoring role in San Antonio, and a complicated final stretch that ended with a trade to Toronto.

New Orleans Hornets (2005-2011): Early rise

Selected fourth overall in 2005, Paul quickly became the Hornets’ offensive leader and won Rookie of the Year. His control in the pick-and-roll and ability to manage pace stood out immediately.At his peak in New Orleans, he finished second in MVP voting and led the team to 56 wins in the 2007-08 season. His partnership with Tyson Chandler and David West helped create one of the league’s most effective lob attacks.He also provided stability to a franchise displaced by Hurricane Katrina and played a key role when the team returned to New Orleans.

Those years established him as both a leader and one of the league’s top point guards.

Los Angeles Clippers (2011-2017, 2025-Dec. 2025): Contenders and unfinished business

Chris Paul joined the Clippers in 2011 after the league blocked a proposed trade that would have sent him to the Lakers. His arrival helped turn the franchise into a regular playoff team and started the Lob City era with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.From 2011 through 2017, the Clippers posted six straight winning seasons and reached the playoffs each year.

Paul earned All-NBA honors every season during that span.The breakthrough never came. Playoff losses, including series against Oklahoma City in 2014 and Houston in 2015, shaped the narrative that postseason success remained out of reach.Paul returned to the Clippers in July 2025 on a one-year minimum contract for his 21st season. The expectation was that he would support James Harden and pursue a championship close to his family.The reunion was short. Limited minutes, a 4-11 start, and tension related to his role led the team to send him home in early December before trading him in February 2026.

Houston Rockets (2017-2019): A title chance interrupted

Chris Paul’s move to Houston paired him with James Harden in one of the league’s most efficient offenses under Mike D’Antoni.The Rockets won 65 games in 2018 and led Golden State 3-2 in the Western Conference finals before Paul suffered a hamstring injury in Game 5.

Houston lost the series, and the injury remains one of the major turning points of that postseason.In 2019, the Rockets traded him for Russell Westbrook, ending a short partnership that still represented his closest path to reaching the Finals during the Warriors’ peak.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-2020): Veteran leadership

Many expected Oklahoma City to rebuild after acquiring Paul, but he helped guide the team to the playoffs. He mentored Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and anchored a lineup that performed well late in games.The season reinforced his reputation as a guard who could organize any roster and keep games competitive.

Phoenix Suns (2020-2023): Finals appearance and major milestones

Chris Paul arrived in Phoenix in 2020 and helped turn a promising team into a contender. Alongside Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, he led the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.During this period, he passed the combined milestone of 20,000 points and 10,000 assists and continued to build on those totals.Phoenix later shifted its focus toward a core that included Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, leading to Paul’s next move.

Golden State Warriors (2023-2024): Adjusting to a new system

In Golden State, Paul played in a motion offense built around off-ball movement, a contrast to the systems he usually ran.He accepted time off the bench, helped stabilize second units, and added to his assist and steal totals. The Warriors, dealing with an aging roster, did not make a deep playoff run.

San Antonio Spurs (2024-2025): Guiding a young team

Chris Paul signed with San Antonio in 2024 and stepped into a starting role on a roster led by Victor Wembanyama.He started all 82 games during the 2024-25 season, reached 12,000 assists, and passed Jason Kidd for second place on the all-time assists and steals lists.

As the Spurs prepared to develop a younger backcourt, Paul entered free agency looking for one more chance to compete for a title.By this stage, he was no longer a primary scorer but remained a reliable organizer on the floor.

Los Angeles Clippers reunion (2025-February 2026): A difficult ending

The Los Angeles Clippers described Paul’s return as both a leadership move and a nod to franchise history.His role was limited. He averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 16 appearances, with his final game coming on December 1.

Reports later pointed to friction tied to his presence in the locker room, and the team separated from him before using his contract in a trade to gain financial flexibility.The ending lacked the structure often given to longtime stars.

Toronto Raptors (February 2026): Final stop

On February 4, 2026, the Clippers traded Paul to Toronto as part of a three-team deal involving the Nets. The move was primarily financial, and the Raptors were not expected to bring him into the lineup.Toronto waived him on February 12. About a day later, he announced his retirement, ending his career without playing a game for the franchise.

Full team list: Chris Paul’s path through the league

Feb 2026 Toronto Raptors Acquired in three-team trade, waived without playing, then retired.Nine franchises - close to a quarter of the league - is an unusually high number for a player who maintained elite production for most of his career.

Chris Paul's Legacy: influence without a championship

Chris Paul retires second only to John Stockton in assists and remains one of the most productive two-way guards in league history.

His mid-range shooting, pick-and-roll execution, and late-game control influenced many guards who followed him.Also read: When will Chris Paul enter the Hall of Fame? A clear look at ex Los Angeles Clippers star's eligibility timelineA championship never came, but his consistency, leadership, and statistical output place him among the defining point guards of his generation. Across every stop - New Orleans, Los Angeles, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State, and San Antonio - teams typically improved after he arrived.