Countdown to Paul’s retirement at the age of 40? The God of Point Guard may welcome the last dance!

"Yes, I didn't expect to be 40 years old in the blink of an eye." When Chris Paul said this on the eve of his birthday, the evening breeze in San Antonio was rolling up the fallen leaves outside the AT&T Center Arena. The legendary point guard, who is second in the NBA's assists list and second in the steals list, responded to the topic of retirement with a sentence "already on the agenda."

If Paul's career is broken down into numbers, each frame is an epic: 23,011 points (36th in history), 12,499 assists (2nd in history), 2,717 steals (2nd in history) - the three data forms the "point guard golden triangle"; 6 steals kings, 5 assists kings - the only point guard in history who is king in both events; 1 best team, 9 best defensive team - synonymous with an offense and defense integration. Behind these cold numbers is a passionate narrative that spans 20 years from 2005 to the present. When he surpassed Kidd to become the second in the assist list in 2024, the assist he gave Wenban Yama, which spanned 20 years, was like a metaphor for the cycle of fate. Standing at the threshold of 40 years old, Paul's reference system is full of drama: forming a "40-year-old trio" with James and Tucker, becoming the oldest active point guard in the league; sharing the aura of "75 superstars" with Curry and James, but lacking the championship ring; assists and steals are second, just one step away from Stockton's "double champion". Paul is not only the last flag bearer of the traditional point guard, but also the new generation of mentors. This season, he has increased the assist-turnover ratio of the Spurs' young core Wenban Yama from 1.8 to 2.3, and used practical experiments to interpret what "floor commander" is.

From the Hornets to the Clippers, from the Rockets to the Thunder, to the Suns and the Spurs, he is always chasing that perfect end. But a true legend may never need a perfect ending. Just as Paul himself said: "The championship ring is shining, but those fingertips worn in the training hall, sweat shed in the locker room, and the temperature of high-fives with teammates after the game are the best gifts basketball has given me. "

In the field of life, we are all looking for our own "champion ". Some people have won the trophy, some have left regrets, but as long as they are still persevering and fighting, every 40-year-old dusk may give birth to a new dawn. So do you think Paul is still likely to win the championship? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to express your views.