In the NBA, it’s rare to see athletes cross over into another major league. Michael Jordan stepped away from basketball to try baseball, while Stephen Curry has often showcased his love for golf in celebrity tournaments. So when news surfaced on Friday evening involving a certain “Chris Paul,” the NBA world briefly wondered if another veteran star had decided to try a different sport.
The News That Created the Confusion
The confusion started when NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Washington Commanders had re-signed Chris Paul to a one-year deal. The report referred to the team’s offensive lineman, who originally joined Washington after being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After spending several seasons with the franchise, the four-year veteran is now returning for another year in the nation’s capital.
But because the name “Chris Paul” is instantly associated with the longtime NBA point guard, social media erupted with confusion and jokes. Many analysts initially believed the report referred to the 12-time NBA All-Star. This led to a wave of hilarious reactions across the basketball community.
The Reaction From the Analysts
CP3 first joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011 through a blockbuster trade. After several stops around the league, he returned to the Clippers in the summer of 2025 on a one-year contract. He stated that he wanted to finish his career close to his family in Los Angeles during what he announced would be his final NBA season at age 40.
However, the reunion didn’t last long. The team struggled early in the season, and by early Dec. 2025, the Clippers had surprisingly sent Paul home and ultimately parted ways with the veteran guard. Now, because of that recent storyline, the Commanders’ headline made it seem like Paul had taken a drastic step and switched sports entirely.
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“Bro really switched sports after the Clippers waived him,” wrote AP Hoops.
The basketball account Underdog NBA on X leaned into the joke by posting a highlight montage of Paul’s best NBA plays. The clip featured deep three-pointers, ankle-breaking crossovers, and lightning-fast fast breaks. Those snippets suggested that Washington had just added an elite playmaker to its football roster.
“The Commanders got a DAWG,” Underdog NBA wrote as the caption.
Some analysts who initially missed the context were genuinely confused for a moment, wondering if CP3 had actually decided to try a new sport late in his career.
“Bro switched sports?” an analyst by the name of ‘Kentown’ wrote as caption.
Bro switched sports?
— Kentown (@TheSharpBros) March 14, 2026
Meanwhile, RotoWire took the humor even further. Instead of posting game footage, the outlet shared a GIF from Paul’s well-known State Farm commercials, leaning into the absurdity of the situation.
“Chris Paul came out of retirement to play in the NFL,” Rotowire wrote as the caption.
In reality, the Commanders’ signing had nothing to do with the NBA legend. But for a few hours online, the sports world enjoyed imagining a scenario where one of basketball’s greatest point guards had suddenly decided to trade hardwood for the gridiron.
