The retirement of Chris Paul has sparked strong reactions across the NBA, and one of the most vocal responses came from seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell. Paul officially announced his retirement on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, bringing an end to a legendary 21-year NBA career.
His final season took a sour turn, as locker room issues led the Clippers to send him home indefinitely on Dec. 1, 2025, before he was traded to the Raptors and immediately waived. Paul announced his retirement soon after, opting to walk away rather than pursue another roster spot.
Donovan Mitchell Speaks On Chris Paul’s Retirement
Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers star, did not hold back when speaking to Marc J. Spears of Andscape about how Paul has to leave the NBA.
Mitchell said, “To see [Paul’s] career end the way it did, I think it’s BS. I don’t know. I don’t see all the reports. I don’t know the ins and outs of everything. That’s not my job. But I know when you have a guy like that, there’s a level that he has to be [respected] and he wasn’t given that opportunity, which I think is messed up.”
“But all that being said, he’s a hell of a person. Hell of a point guard. Hell of a player. He has done so much for this game. As a president of the [players’ union], he’s done so much for us. I was going to pay my respect to CP, because he’s done so much for me, but also for the game of basketball.”
The 40-year-old guard was playing his 21st season and had strongly hinted back in November that it would be his last. After appearing in just 16 games for the Clippers, the organization moved on from him amid reported internal issues.
Paul moved to join the Raptors ahead of the Feb. 2026 trade deadline, but the Raptors waived him Friday. Following his release, Paul did not sign with another team, and his retirement announcement confirmed the end of his playing career.
For many fans, the ending stood in stark contrast to the legacy he built, particularly during the iconic “Lob City” era in Los Angeles.
A 12-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Paul compiled one of the most decorated résumés for a point guard in NBA history.
He earned four All-NBA First Team selections and ranks second all-time in league history with 12,552 assists. He also became the first player ever to record at least 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in a career.
Paul was selected fourth overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets and went on to play for seven franchises.
His first stint with the Clippers from 2011–17 helped transform the franchise into a perennial playoff contender. During that stretch, he led the team to six winning seasons, the organization’s first two Pacific Division titles, and three playoff series victories. He returned to Los Angeles as a free agent last July for what ultimately became his final season.
Regardless of how it ended, Paul’s impact on the game as a floor general, competitor, and former president of the NBA Players Association remains undeniable.
That said, he is an NBA legend, and legends deserve a certain level of respect on their way out. So naturally, the way Paul’s career ended simply did not sit right with many NBA players.
