There is no denying that Chris Paul deserved a better send-off in his farewell season. What was supposed to be a fairytale ending to his career turned into a tragedy with the Los Angeles Clippers . Not to mention that the Toronto Raptors recently waived him as well.
Keeping aside the bitter ending to his two-decade-long journey, Paul indeed had a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. Though he became a journeyman toward the end of his career, the veteran guard made a notable impact on almost all seven teams he represented during the course.
Among the several stops in his career was the Golden State Warriors , where CP teamed up with longtime rival Stephen Curry . Further elaborating on it in a recent conversation with Tylil James.
"It was super dope," said Paul when asked about playing alongside Curry.
"He's from North Carolina. We had spent so much time together. We used to work out together and all this stuff. And then obviously we became crazy competitors. And so getting a chance to play with Steph and getting a chance to work out and train every day, you know what I mean, was wild. That's probably one of the dopest things about my career," added the former Clippers guard.
Arguably, as the greatest point guards of the last decade, Paul and Curry had some of the most memorable playoff matchups. Turning back the clock to 2014, when CP3 played for the Clippers. While Lob City prevailed in Game 7, the Dubs did manage to put the league on notice.
CP3 and Steph crossed paths yet again during the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Paul now played alongside James Harden on the Houston Rockets . Once again, it turned out to be a seven-game series. Still, this time the Kevin Durant-led Warriors emerged victorious.
Facing the Warriors the very next year in the 2019 playoffs, the Rockets fought tooth and nail but came up short yet again. In the end, Curry edged Paul 2-1 in their three playoff series. Nonetheless, CP did bring the Warriors to the brink of elimination, especially in 2018.
That said, both Chris and Steph shared the highest regard for each other. The most recent example was The Chef's heartfelt message upon learning of CP's retirement.
Steph and Chris no doubt went a long way back, sharing a student-teacher relationship. A rapport that extended beyond the court as well, with the two stars attending each other's respective weddings.
Hence, when Paul decided to call it quits, Curry did give the Point God his flowers.
"I just want to say congratulations, man. An unbelievable career. 21 amazing years. A lot of battles against you, but a great year playing with you, so enjoy retirement. I know I'm going to see you out on that golf course and everywhere, but congratulations, man. Beyond well-deserved," he said .
From rivals to teammates, CP and Steph's careers crossed paths on several occasions. While they played different styles of basketball, they shared a common passion and competitive drive for the game, something fans will miss seeing on the court. Nevertheless, it will surely be interesting to see Paul and Curry go at it on the golf course.
Related: Chris Paul lauds San Antonio Spurs as the best organization he has played for
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
