A floor general, a pass-first mentality, “Point God,” and a true student of the game, Chris Paul has left his mark on the NBA ever since he was drafted in 2005 by the New Orleans Hornets. The franchise relocated from Charlotte in 2002 and was representing a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Should the Pelicans Retire Chris Paul’s Jersey?
After his lackluster retirement, should the Pelicans honor Paul’s legacy by retiring his “3” jersey?
CP3 was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft after spending two seasons at Wake Forest University. Early in his NBA career, he was widely considered one of the league’s top three players. He won the Rookie of the Year Award and finished second in MVP voting in 2008.
Paul spent six seasons with the Hornets, but the team was forced to play most of its home games in Oklahoma City due to the destruction caused by the hurricane during the first two years of Paul’s career. In the Big Easy, Paul averaged 18.6 points, 9.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game while shooting just under 46% from the field.
The Dreaded Trade Request
His tenure with the Hornets eventually came to an end. Paul’s father later commented that he wanted to play for a franchise with a legitimate opportunity to compete for an NBA championship.
A proposed trade to the Los Angeles Lakers would have sent Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom to New Orleans in exchange for Paul, pairing him with Kobe Bryant. However, the deal was famously vetoed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern due to pressure from other owners.
The NBA has caved to pressure from owners that the appearance of this deal, on heels of lockout, had to be stopped, sources tell Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 9, 2011
Instead, Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he helped create one of the most iconic teams of the 2010s, “Lob City,” alongside the athletic frontcourt duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
Throughout his career, Paul won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in Beijing in 2008 as part of the “Redeem Team” and again in London in 2012. He ranks second all-time in NBA assists with 12,552, trailing only the legendary John Stockton, and has been selected to 12 NBA All-Star Games.
A Bleak Retirement for CP3
During the 2025-26 season, the LA Clippers brought Paul back for what many believed would be a final farewell. Instead, the reunion ended in disappointment after the team stumbled to a 5-16 start. The organization announced that Paul would no longer be part of its plans.
ESPN reported that Paul’s leadership style clashed with Clippers management, particularly head coach Tyronn Lue. According to the report, Lue and Paul were not on speaking terms for several weeks. Paul was reportedly vocal about holding players, coaches, and management accountable.
So, should his No. 3 jersey hang in the rafters of the Smoothie King Center?
The real question is whether the Pelicans should sign Paul to a one-day contract so that he can officially retire with the franchise that drafted him.
Like many real-life stories, Paul’s ending was somewhat lackluster. There was no farewell tour and no opportunity for fans to give him the standing ovation he truly deserved. Even during the days leading up to his departure from New Orleans, Paul remained a consummate professional, and Pelicans fans have not forgotten that.
The Smaller Forgotten Brother
The Hornets and Pelicans have not enjoyed a history filled with championship success. In fact, the franchise is one of the few in the NBA that has never won a championship or even reached the NBA Finals. For most of its existence, it has lived in the shadow of the city’s more successful franchise, the New Orleans Saints, who captured a Super Bowl title in 2010.
That is precisely why Paul’s legacy matters.
Through his 6 seasons, of which he only played 4 in the Smoothie King Center, he transformed the franchise into a legitimate title contender and gave the city one of the greatest players in its short history. He was the face of the organization during one of the most difficult periods the city has ever experienced and helped provide hope and excitement for a fan base recovering from unimaginable devastation.