Chris Paul moved up his retirement plans.
The 40-year-old point guard announced Friday he is retiring during his 21st season, with the Raptors reportedly waiving him earlier in the day, per ESPN.
Paul said before the season this would be his last in the NBA.
“This is it! After 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball. As I write this, it’s hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don’t have the answer lo!” Paul posted to Instagram on Friday afternoon. “But, mostly I’m filled with so much joy and gratitude!
“While this chapter of being an ‘NBA player’ is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life.”
Paul began this season with the Clippers, whom he starred for from 2011-17, before being traded to the Raptors before the Feb. 5 trade deadline after a falling out with Los Angeles.
He did not play with the Raptors before they reportedly waived him Friday.
“I’ve been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades,” Paul continued in his message. “It’s crazy even saying that!! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility. I embraced it all. The good and the bad.”
Paul’s goodbye message took a trip down memory lane, with the point guard reminiscing on trips to the YMCA in the snow while remembering the injuries he faced over the years.
He also thanked the teammates, coaches and executives he worked with over the years.
“It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my dad introduced to me to me it,” he wrote.
He’s looking forward to now focusing on his family.
“So now with all the gratitude that I could possibly have… it’s time for me to show up for others and in other ways,” he wrote. “This last season I knew I couldn’t do it unless I was at home with my family. Those six years were a lot of sacrifice for all of us and I know that had to come to an end. And I now know wholeheartedly the best teammate I can be is to Jada, Chris II and Cam!!”
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