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[Saba Sports News] Chris Paul may be turning 40 next month, but he’s not ready to hang up his sneakers just yet.
In a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, the San Antonio Spurs veteran made it clear that he still has the itch to play and is leaning toward continuing his NBA career.
“I’ll be 40 in May. So yeah, man, I’m going to keep playing, I think,” Paul said. “At the end of every season, I evaluate everything—how my body feels, where I’m at mentally. But more and more, it’s conversations with my family, with my kids. They have a big say in what I do next.”
Paul added that while friends and fellow players who’ve retired often urge him to play as long as possible, his children remain the top priority in any decision he makes.
“I love to play. But I love my kids and my family more than I love the game,” Paul said. “I’ll take the summer to evaluate everything and talk it over with them.”
Despite his age, Paul continues to perform at a high level. This season with San Antonio, he’s averaging 8.8 points and 7.6 assists in just 28 minutes per game, while shooting 38.3% from three and a career-best 94.0% from the free throw line.
His contract with the Spurs expires at season’s end, and with a crowded backcourt that now includes De’Aaron Fox and rising star Stephon Castle, Paul’s future in San Antonio is far from guaranteed. Still, wherever he lands, it’s clear he feels there’s more gas in the tank.
A few months back, Paul hinted he might explore an intriguing post-playing opportunity when retirement finally does come. But for now, the 12-time All-Star sounds like a man who’s not ready to walk away just yet.