Suns’ Chris Paul on NBA Future: ‘I Ain’t Retiring’

As the confetti rained down from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee after the Bucks defeated the Suns 105-98 to win their first NBA title in 50 years, Suns guard Chris Paul made it clear that he has no plans to walk away from the game anytime soon.

“I ain’t retiring, back to work,” Paul told ESPN’s Marc Spears.

Paul finished Game 6 on Tuesday with 26 points, five assists and two rebounds. In this year’s postseason, the 16-year NBA veteran averaged 19.2 points, 8.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds while averaging 34.2 minutes in 20 games.

With the offseason in motion now that the season is over, Paul has a $44.2 million player option to consider for the 2021-22 season. Paul will likely instead become a free agent and possibly land a multiyear deal close to $60 million according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. 

In the postgame news conference after the loss, Paul was not too worried about his player option situation.

“I think everything will take care of itself,” Paul told reporters.

The Suns finished their postseason 14-8 after an incredible season where they took the league by storm. They won 51 games after going 19-63 two seasons ago and went undefeated in the NBA Bubble in the conclusion of their 2020 season. Tuesday night’s game was only the second time during the postseason that Phoenix trailed in a series. The Suns were down 2-1 to the Lakers but came back to win in six games, swept Denver and defeated the Clippers 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals. 

Despite losing in the Finals, Paul said this team has what it takes to come back and compete for a championship.

“Everybody in that locker room knows we have enough,” Paul told reporters. “But it wasn’t enough. Nobody expected us to be where we are except us.

“I’ll look at myself on how I can get better and what I could’ve done more.”

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