San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul is nearing the end of his 20th season in professional basketball. As he approaches his 40th birthday next month, the future Hall of Famer indicates he is not quite ready to retire.
“I`m going to keep playing, I think,” Paul mentioned in an interview.
Paul currently holds the position of the third-oldest player in the NBA. While LeBron James turned 40 in December and P.J. Tucker is slightly older, Paul has played in every game for the Spurs this season. If he continues to play in the remaining six games, it will mark the second time in his career he has played a full 82-game season.
Paul shared that retired friends encourage him to “play as long as you possibly can.” He values this advice but emphasizes his family is his priority, leading him to re-evaluate his situation annually. Despite leaning towards continuing his career, he stopped short of making a definitive commitment.
“At the end of each season, I assess everything,” Paul stated. “I consider playing, evaluate my physical condition, and increasingly discuss it with my family. Their opinions and feelings are very important.”
Paul reflected on spending half his life in the league and admits he still can`t imagine being done with basketball. He also mentioned his expanded role in San Antonio, where he has been “basically coaching along with playing.”
“My passion for the game is even stronger now,” Paul added. With his son and daughter also playing basketball, he finds a new challenge in sharing his knowledge with his children and teammates. He is currently exploring how to balance these aspects of his life.
Paul acknowledged the unexpected challenges this season, including coach Gregg Popovich`s absence due to health issues and limited playing time with Victor Wembanyama due to injury. He described these circumstances as “extremely tough” but maintains a sense of perspective.
“The situations with Pop and Vic are more significant than basketball,” Paul explained. “These are not minor injuries.”
He further elaborated on his desire to play with Popovich and Wembanyama being key factors in joining the Spurs. Despite the limited time together, he is grateful for the opportunity to have played with them.
Looking ahead, Paul`s future with the Spurs remains uncertain, even if he chooses to continue playing. The Spurs acquired De`Aaron Fox and have the promising rookie Stephon Castle, suggesting potential changes in the team`s lineup. Paul previously accepted a bench role with the Golden State Warriors, raising questions about his willingness to do so again with the Spurs or explore other opportunities.
Ultimately, Paul has much to consider as he weighs his NBA future and family priorities.
Jasper Hawthorne