Chris Paul’s announcement that this will be his final NBA season sent social media into overdrive, as fans, brands and even trolls rushed to react to the Los Angeles Clippers guard calling it a career after 21 seasons.
The 12-time All-Star revealed on social media that he plans to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season, pairing the news with an emotional video built around his 2005 draft night and career highlights.
From “top-five point guard” praise to jokes about trades that never happened, the NBA world had plenty to say as CP3’s farewell tour officially became real.
Fans Get Emotional, Call Chris Paul a Top-5 Point Guard
Plenty of fans went straight to legacy talk after Paul’s announcement, with one summing up the mood in a simple, emotional line.
“Damn bro this edit got me emotional you really a top 5 PG of all time,” one fan posted, reacting directly to Paul’s video and putting him in that rarefied “top five” point guard tier.
Another fan zeroed in on Paul’s impact on basketball culture beyond just box scores. X user @mkr4411 wrote, “Greatest aside bro gave us one of the best memes ever,” a nod to the way CP3 moments have lived online for years as much as they have on the court.
The overall tone from most fans was the same: sadness that the end is here, mixed with appreciation for how long Paul has been at the center of the league conversation.
State Farm & Ballislife Lead Brand Tributes to CP3
Brands that have been tied to Paul’s image for more than a decade joined in quickly.
State Farm, the insurance giant that featured Paul in countless commercials and helped make “Cliff Paul” a household name, posted, “It’s been a privilege every step of the way @CP3. Here’s to the final chapter.” The message matched the tone of Paul’s own announcement, framing this season as the closing act of a long-running partnership as well as a Hall of Fame career.
Hoops outlet Ballislife.com went straight to the numbers, reminding fans of just how much Paul has created for others. “Chris Paul has 12,532 assists! Here are a few of his best ones…” the account posted, along with a highlight reel of signature dimes.
That assist total underscores what the reaction conversation kept circling back to: Paul isn’t just a star who scored for himself, he’s one of the greatest table-setters the league has ever seen.
Trolls Bring Up Old Wounds as CP3 Says Goodbye
It wouldn’t be NBA Twitter without some trolling mixed in with the love.
Account @BucksLead posted, “Hell of a career CP3! So many great memories,” a message that reads sincere but will inevitably remind some fans of playoff battles and near-misses along the way.
Heat-focused account @HeatvsHaters took a more pointed route, using the retirement news to relitigate one of the strangest what-ifs of Paul’s career. “Chris Paul retiring reminds me that he messed up a trade to Miami because he couldn’t wear No. 3,” the account wrote, pulling in fans who still imagine alternate-universe versions of CP3 next to different stars and franchises.
The mix of heartfelt tributes and light jabs fits Paul’s place in NBA history: universally respected, constantly debated and forever tied to a long list of almosts, blocked trades and “what could have been” scenarios.
What Chris Paul’s Retirement Means Going Forward
Paul’s decision locks in this season with the Clippers as his final run, giving every game, assist and clutch moment added weight as fans follow what amounts to a farewell tour.
It also cements the way people discuss him in real time. The immediate reaction around the league — from “top-5 PG” labels to brands rolling out tribute edits — shows how firmly he’s viewed as one of the greatest point guards ever, even without a championship ring.
As Paul’s final season unfolds, there will be more tributes, more highlights and more debates. If the first wave of social media reaction is any indication, NBA fans plan to savor every last moment of CP3’s final chapter.
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