When people think of the point guard position, the players that typically come to mind are the household names who changed the game. Magic Johnson brought a sense of flash and showmanship, while more modern players have displayed more modern talents, like Stephen Curry’s incredible 3-point shooting.
But one small, scrappy point guard from Winston-Salem had an NBA career that earned him the nickname “The Point God.” Chris Paul, one of Wake Forest’s most accomplished alumni, announced on Feb. 13 that he is retiring from the NBA after an astonishing 21-year career. Fans will remember Paul, fondly referred to as “CP3,” as a proven winner who contributed much to his home university and city.
“Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility,” Paul wrote in his retirement announcement, adding that he is excited to spend more time with his wife, Jada Crawley, and their two children. “I embraced it all. The good and the bad.”
A local legend and campus leader
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Wake Forest celebrates their “Hometown Hero” on the last day of classes of each semester on “Chris Paul Day,” a cherished campus tradition where students enjoy free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, coffee and commemorative Chris Paul T-shirts.
Paul is a dedicated supporter of his alma maters, West Forsyth High School and Wake Forest University, and frequently returns to both schools. In September 2022, Paul returned to West Forsyth for a ceremony where the local high school dedicated its basketball court in his honor.
In September 2025, Paul appeared in the Wake Forest Face to Face Speaker Series after the originally scheduled guest, Magic Johnson, stepped away due to unforeseen circumstances.
Paul reminisced about his upbringing in Winston-Salem and time at Wake Forest during his speech and specifically honored his grandfather, Nathaniel “Papa Chilly” Jones. A beloved pillar of the Winston-Salem community who led the first Black-owned service station in North Carolina, Jones was murdered in November 2002, the day after Paul committed to play at Wake Forest.
Jones’ killing and the controversial trial that followed continue to rock Winston-Salem, and profoundly affected Paul’s life. Paul writes extensively about his grandfather in his memoir, “Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court,” and in his children’s book,
“Basketball Dreams,” crediting Jones with teaching him the importance of commitment, gratitude and humility.
“As a kid, you don’t realize how things being shown to you on the daily will shape your future,” Paul said during his most recent speech at Wake Forest. “But watching my granddad show up to the station every single day, from open to close, taught me the value of hard work and not waiting for a handout.”
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2003-2005)
An All-American talent in high school, 18-year-old Chris Paul decided to stay local and started his basketball career as a Demon Deacon under head coach Skip Prosser, the only coach in NCAA history to take 3 different schools to the NCAA tournament.
In his first season with Wake Forest, which had finished first in the ACC regular season the previous year, Paul immediately brought the team to the next level. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game. He was second on the team in points per game, only trailing fellow point guard Justin Gray, who averaged 17 points per game.
“I think he’s a natural leader,” Prosser said of Paul when the ACC named the freshman Rookie of the Year in 2004. “He possesses a good understanding of when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, when to be aggressive with the ball and when to pull it out. We just tell him to follow his instincts, and his instincts are, generally speaking, very good.”
“I came in not wanting to step on toes, hoping to fit in as best I could,” Paul said. “My family has taught me to remain humble, because all this can be taken away in the blink of an eye. So I just enjoy it for what it is.”
The following year, Paul stepped up his game even further, averaging 15.2 points and 6.6 assists per game and leading Wake Forest to the No. 1 ranking in the country for the first time in program history.
One of Paul’s more memorable games was when he helped defeat the in-state rival Duke Blue Devils at home in 2005, putting up 23 points, 6 assists and 5 steals in a win for the Demon Deacons. However, his most impressive game while at Wake Forest was when he helped to defeat the eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels at home, scoring a game-high 26 points and pairing it with 8 assists.
“I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, he’s one of the most selfless players I’ve ever coached,” Prosser said of Paul following the 2005 game against the Tar Heels. “And for that, he’s also one of the most popular among his teammates.”
New Orleans Hornets (2005-2011)
After two remarkable seasons in Deactown, Paul declared for the 2005 NBA draft at 20 years old. The then New Orleans Hornets selected Paul with the 4th pick.
“This was the most difficult decision I have ever made,” Paul said regarding his choice to leave Wake Forest. “I have talked at length with my family and the coaching staff. In the end, I felt like I was ready for the challenge.”
Just like his effect in Winston-Salem, Paul had an immediate influence on New Orleans, averaging 16.1 points and 7.8 assists while improving the Hornets’ record by 20 games. His impressive play earned him the 2006 Rookie of the Year award. In his second year in New Orleans, Paul finished second in MVP voting and made the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
“I was really a part of that city,” Paul said in a 2014 interview with Yahoo! Sports. “If it were not for the city of New Orleans, I’m not who I am now. They just embrace you as family.”“The journey started here, and I’ll always have gratitude for the city of New Orleans,” Paul wrote when visiting the city in 2025.
Los Angeles Clippers (2011-2017)
In 2011, the New Orleans Hornets traded Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers. Without missing a beat, Paul helped turn a mediocre team into one of the most fun in the league. Dubbed “Lob City” due to his frequent alley-oops, Paul instantly became a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
Houston Rockets (2017-2019)
After he received five All-Star nominations, the Clippers traded Paul to the Houston Rockets in 2017.
“I haven’t been this excited about basketball in a while, to tell you the truth,” Paul said when he joined the Rockets. “It’s a new start, it’s a fresh start, and the timing couldn’t be better.”
He helped his new team win a franchise record 65 games in his first year. This 2017-2018 season was also Paul’s first year in the conference finals, though the Rockets lost to the eventual champion, the Golden State Warriors.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-2020)
After a couple more seasons in Houston, Paul joined Oklahoma City for the 2019-2020 season. The expectations for the Thunder were quite low, but Paul led an inexperienced squad to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and a playoff berth. However, after a first-round playoff loss to his former team, the Houston Rockets, Paul was once again on the move.
Phoenix Suns (2020-2023)
After just one season with the Thunder, Paul was traded to a young Phoenix Suns team led by Devin Booker and former 1st overall pick DeAndre Ayton. While with the Suns, Paul brought Phoenix to new levels of success and made his first NBA finals at the age of 36 – the Suns’ first finals appearance since 1993. Unfortunately, Paul and the Suns came up short against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Great group of guys, hell of a season,” Paul said following the loss. “But this one’s gonna hurt for a while.”
His Suns career would last for a couple more seasons, including a season where they finished with the best record in the league at 64-18, but he was never able to reach the Finals again. After the 2023 season, the Suns decided to move on from Paul and traded him to the Washington Wizards. He ended up not stepping on the court for Washington, as weeks later, he was traded to play with another future Hall of Fame point guard.
Golden State Warriors (2023-2024)
Paul was traded to the Golden State Warriors to help star point guard Stephen Curry. For the first time in Paul’s career, he came off the bench. His stint in Golden State was short-lived, as the Warriors did not make the playoffs in his only year before he became a free agent.
San Antonio Spurs (2024-2025)
In the 2024 offseason, Paul signed a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, following in the footsteps of fellow former Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball star Tim Duncan. He joined legendary coach Gregg Popovich and promising young star Victor Wembanyama. Similar to his time in Golden State, Paul only stayed with the Spurs for one year after finishing No. 13 in the Western Conference.
CP3’s final season (2025-2026)
After many years of travel and stops in different places, Paul decided to return home and rejoin the Clippers. With a much-reduced role and being surrounded by star players Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Paul was thrilled to be back with the franchise that meant so much to him. He became the second current NBA player, alongside LeBron James, to be over 40 years old.
“I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary,” Paul said. “I didn’t even care what the team looked like, I just wanted to be home, be here with the Clippers.”
Despite Paul’s enthusiasm, after a poor 5-16 start and internal friction, the Clippers traded Paul to the Toronto Raptors, where he was released just weeks later. He officially announced his retirement in a social media post on February 13, 2026, ending his career on a sour note but leaving an unforgettable legacy and impact on the game of basketball.
A Demon Deacon legacy
Paul’s No.3 jersey can be found above the court of the Lawrence Joel Veteran Memorial Coliseum alongside other Demon Deacon greats—Charlie Davis (12), Muggsy Bogues (14), Skip Brown (15), Tim Duncan (21), Randolph Childress (22), Dickie Hemric (24), Rod Griffin (32), Len Chappell (50) and Rodney Rogers (54).
And this past summer, rather than admire his legacy from afar, Paul decided to return to Winston-Salem to work out with the next generation of Demon Deacon basketball players, inspiring the team to find their own identity amongst the noise.
“When y’all go out there and hoop, ain’t nobody gonna give a damn about none of that,” Paul said to the team. “Somehow, someway, y’all gotta find your voice.”
Fans will always remember Paul for his wins wherever he went. He ranked second in NBA history in both assists and steals, was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and won two Olympic gold medals. As one of the most legendary Demon Deacons says goodbye to the hardwood, his leadership will be felt for years to come.
“With all the gratitude that I could possibly have, it’s time for me to show up for others and in other ways,” Paul wrote in his retirement announcement, bringing a heartfelt close to a remarkable legacy.