The summer of 2026 has been a big one for the NBA. Besides major trades and ownership drama, we’ve seen several players call it a career, including Russell Westbrook and Kyle Lowry. Of course, there’s also point guard legend Chris Paul, who retired back in February after being released by the Clippers.
In the case of Paul and Westbrook specifically, their NBA stories may be over now, but the fun is only just getting started. According to NBA veteran Matt Barnes, the former superstars are planning to link up for an epic vacation, where they will bring their wives to honor their storied careers.
“I just talked to CP two days ago,” said Matt Barnes on ‘All the Smoke.’ “He and [Russell Westbrook] are going on vacation. They’re taking their wives on vacation. So, two of the greatest PGs are going to kick it up in the sand, have some drinks, and really just celebrate because this is the end of Russ and CP’s careers. Hell of a run, bro. One of the most feared point guards we’ve ever seen. I remember him in his heyday with the Lob City team; he was a monster.”
It’s never easy for an athlete to walk away from their favorite sport, but it’s a moment that comes for every player. What comes next varies from person to person, but it really depends on how involved they want to be with the game. While some ex-players (like Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter) opt for media roles, others (like Jason Kidd) accept a coaching job. There are also those like Tim Duncan, who stay out of the limelight entirely.
We don’t yet know which category Russ and Paul will fall into, but it’s likely they need this vacation after the way they ended things. For Chris, his final stint with the Clippers was supposed to be a final send-off for his career, but things turned ugly when they struggled to win games. As much as he tried to right the ship, Paul alienated himself from the organization by overestimating his authority and making the wrong impression in the locker room.
That’s why, despite his long history with the Clippers (and his status as a 12x All-Star and second-leading passer), Chris was unceremoniously exiled from the Clippers before he even had a chance to rectify the situation. Russell Westbrook wasn’t disrespected to quite the same degree, but it was enough that he felt better off retiring than returning to play next season.
In the end, even with solid averages of 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game last season, no team was willing to offer Westbrook a major contract, much less a meaningful role. That brutal reality is what pushed the former MVP to announce his retirement, without any kind of tribute to honor his legacy.
With two of the NBA’s greatest modern point guards ending their careers in the same summer, it’s only right that they start this new chapter together. The legends have always had great respect for each other, and now they have an opportunity to link up with no strings attached.
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