The King needed to pay his respects to the Point God.Â
LeBron James wasted little time reacting to Chris Paulâs retirement decision, posting a heartfelt Instagram story calling his longtime friend the âPOINT GOD.â Hours after Paul announced that this season with the Los Angeles Clippers will be his last in the NBA, James shared a photo of Paul biting his Olympic gold medal and wrote, âPOINT GOD!!! Been a helluva ride,â along with a saluting emoji.
The post is one of the first high-profile player tributes to Paul, who confirmed on social media that his 21st NBA season will be his final one.
Social media users also went wild with the news.
LeBron James’ Instagram
LeBron James Calls Chris Paul the âPoint Godâ on Instagram
Jamesâ story, posted from his @kingjames account, features Paul in Team USA gear proudly biting his gold medal, with the bold caption across the top of the image. The phrase âPOINT GODâ has followed Paul for years as a nod to his blend of elite playmaking, midrange scoring and clutch decision-making.
By pairing that label with âBeen a helluva ride,â James framed Paulâs retirement as the end of an era for one of the best point guards ever. It reads like both a salute to what Paul has already done and a recognition that his next chapter starts after this final Clippers season wraps up.
The image choice also matters. Instead of a jersey from New Orleans, Los Angeles or Phoenix, James highlighted Paul on the international stage, where the two shared the floor for Team USA and won gold together. Itâs a reminder that their story stretches beyond the NBA to the global game.
Inside the Friendship Between LeBron James and Chris Paul
James and Paul have been close for nearly two decades, from early battles as young stars to their well-known âbanana boatâ vacations with Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. Theyâve shared All-Star locker rooms, Olympic runs and deep playoff pushes while largely avoiding facing each other in a Finals series.
Their careers have run in parallel in a lot of ways. James became the face of the league as a do-everything forward, while Paul became the prototypical floor general, controlling pace and running offenses in New Orleans, with the Clippersâ âLob Cityâ era, in Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio before returning to Los Angeles.
So when Paul finally confirmed that this season will be his last, it felt inevitable that James would be one of the first superstars to publicly acknowledge it. His short, punchy message mirrors how players often talk to each other behind the scenes: few words, but ones that carry a lot of weight.
Chris Paulâs Retirement Cements His Hall of Fame Legacy
Paulâs decision to retire after his 21st season comes with a resume that already screams Hall of Fame. He is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, nine-time All-Defense honoree, 2006 Rookie of the Year and a member of the NBAâs 75th Anniversary Team.
He has orchestrated contenders in multiple eras and cities, helping transform the Clippers into a serious playoff franchise and later guiding the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. Even without a championship ring, heâs widely viewed as one of the best point guards in league history, a sentiment echoed by fans and players in the wake of his announcement.
James putting the âPOINT GODâ stamp on Paulâs retirement only reinforces that status. As Paul plays out his final season with the Clippers, tributes like LeBronâs will keep rolling in, but the message from one all-time great to another is already clear: the ride was worthy of legend.
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