Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Chris Paul hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll return for a 21st NBA season, but he’s certainly hinted at the possibility.
If anything, it appears he’s leaning more toward continuing than retiring. Naturally, the topic dominated much of his final media session following the close of the 2024-25 San Antonio Spurs season.
Pau was askedl how he’d reflect on his decorated career if this had been his last game.
“It’s meant a lot—really has,” Paul said. “But for me, I’m still in it. I’m too much in it to start reflecting, you know what I mean?”
He added, “Right now, I’m just thinking about the summer. It’s going to be a long one, so I’ll reflect on everything when the time’s right.”
That question marked the fourth—or maybe fifth—retirement-related inquiry Paul faced after the Spurs’ 125-118 win over the Toronto Raptors in both teams’ season finale. One reporter even referenced a cryptic Instagram caption he posted the day before: “The grass is greener where you water it.”
Paul smiled and clarified, “Nah, that’s just life. More about staying consistent—stacking days, making the most of every one.”
Despite the persistent speculation, Paul took the line of questioning in stride, even poking fun at the repetition.
“Man, you can phrase those questions however you want,” he said, grinning. “I’ll just say it’s been unbelievable here. And I mean that—seriously. It’s been a great experience. I think this summer, I’ll sit down with my family and make a decision.”
What is clear, however, is how he feels about his time in San Antonio.
“The word I keep coming back to is gratitude,” said the 12-time All-Star, who signed with the Spurs last July. “I’ve been fortunate to spend most of my career in the playoffs. I haven’t played in many so-called meaningless games. Toward the end of the season, the mental part of it really hit—but showing up every day, doing the work, not taking shortcuts—I feel good about that. I feel good about what I’ve done here. As much as I hate not making the playoffs, I’m looking forward to seeing my family.”
The final minutes of the win over Toronto captured what Paul has always been about: fierce competitiveness and leadership. Even with nothing on the line, he was jawing and battling with Raptors players until the very end.
“I just wanted to hoop,” Paul said. “One of the guys on the Raptors bench asked me in the fourth quarter, ‘Why are you still playing?’ I told him, ‘It’s going to be a long summer when you don’t make the playoffs.’ Like, what else I got to do, you know?”
What comes next remains unknown—whether it’s one last run or the final chapter of a storied career. Either way, the decision ahead will shape the close of one of the greatest point guard legacies in NBA history.