Chris Paul called it a career ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend, and although the Phoenix Suns were right not to get involved in his farewell tour, he will always be beloved in The Valley.
He helped lead them to the NBA Finals alongside Devin Booker, and he raised the floor and ceiling of the team from the moment he joined. He will go in the Ring of Honor one day.
Paul means more to the Suns than Kevin Durant ever could
The same cannot be said for Kevin Durant, even though he was the better player throughout his time in Phoenix, and will one day retire higher on the all-time list than Paul as well.
It seems apt that at a time when Paul has called it a career and is rightly being shown love from all corners of the league, unless of course he didn't play for you in which case you may not like him so much, Durant is again dealing with a social media storm.
Chris Paul brought that fire, leadership, savvy playmaking skills & intense work ethic.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) February 15, 2026
After 21 years, the man who ran the show can finally rest. His spot atop the podium is secure. Thank you @CP3! 🇺🇸 #USABfamily
» https://t.co/k6GX9Aksss pic.twitter.com/rV0BHBjIXc
We're not here to validate rumored burner accounts or delve into what exactly they are saying, but if you search yourself you will find it immediately.
Even if the latest about Durant's online persona isn't real, he has enough previous for fans and media members alike to talk about it and create a distraction.
This has already happened several times since he joined the Houston Rockets, and has included going at fans of the team he plays for. Technically not wrong, but also not very cool either.
It would be fair to say the Rockets haven't taken a massive leap forward since he joined either, and while they will be heard from in the playoffs, even the Suns have managed to mostly keep pace with them this season.
None of this happened when Paul was in town. Instead he went about his business and helped unlock a version of Devin Booker that we haven't really seen since.
That alpha who was able to lead a talented roster all the way to the finals, with Paul the perfect co-star who needed the ball but not the attention in order to help the Suns win.
You might argue that neither Paul or Durant are important in the grand scheme of the Suns' history, as neither were able to get them over the hump.
But Paul joined that fun "8-0 bubble" group and immediately made them better, while Durant failed to win a playoff game in his two full seasons in Phoenix. They are not the same, and they never will be.