On Wednesday, the Chris Paul saga in Los Angeles came to an end as the Clippers traded him to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal that also included the Raptors sending Ochai Agbaji, a 2032 second-round pick, and cash to the Nets.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Raptors will not require Paul to report to the team and could still discuss trades involving him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Paul has enjoyed a memorable basketball career. Here’s a look at it.
How Old is Chris Paul? Looking at New Raptors PG’s Career
Paul’s story began on May 6, 1985; he will turn 41 in May. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Paul attended West Forsyth High School, where he led his team to deep playoff runs while also helping his AAU team, Kappa Magic, win the national U-17 AAU championship. From there, he attended Wake Forest, where he played for two seasons.
As a Demon Deacon, Paul earned two All-ACC selections. Following that, the New Orleans Hornets selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
The point guard played the first six years of his career in New Orleans, averaging 18.2 points and 9.9 assists while shooting 47.1% from the field. Paul won the 2005 Rookie of the Year award. The team made the playoffs four times before the organization decided to trade its floor general.
On Dec. 8, 2011, NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. Four days later, New Orleans dealt Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for players and draft picks.
Arguably, Paul’s first stint with the Clippers was his most successful. In six seasons, he made the All-Star team five times. In addition, the Clippers advanced to the playoffs each year, reaching the Western Conference semifinals on three occasions.
After failing to reach the NBA Finals, the organization traded Paul to Houston for seven players, including Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, along with a future first-round pick. Paired with James Harden, the point guard averaged 17.1 points and 8.0 assists in two seasons, giving the dynastic Golden State Warriors trouble in 2018 before a hamstring injury sidelined him in Game 5.
In 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder sent Russell Westbrook to Houston in exchange for Paul and multiple draft picks. The future Hall of Famer averaged 17.6 points while shooting a career-best 48.9% from the field.
In 2020, the Phoenix Suns acquired Paul in a package that included Kelly Oubre Jr. Paul spent his age-35 and 36 seasons in the desert. In 2021, the Suns reached the NBA Finals behind Paul’s facilitation but fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
Over the last three seasons, Paul bounced between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before returning to the Clippers. The team sent Paul home in December amid disputes with teammates, coaches, and the front office.
For now, he joins the Raptors, who boast a 30-21 record, good for the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. Whether Toronto becomes the last chapter of Paul’s storied career — one highlighted by 23,058 points, 12,552 assists, two Olympic gold medals, nine All-NBA selections, and nine All-Defensive Team honors — remains to be seen.
