Chris Paul Eligible for Basketball Hall of Fame in 2030

The 12-time All-Star will have to wait four seasons before being considered for enshrinement.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Chris Paul, who announced his retirement from the NBA on Friday, will be eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2030. The 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection must wait four full seasons after his retirement before being considered for enshrinement in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Why it matters

Paul is considered one of the greatest point guards of his era, ranking second in NBA history in total assists and steals. Despite never winning an NBA championship, his impressive career accomplishments make him a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.

The details

According to the Hall of Fame's eligibility rules, players must be retired for four full seasons before they can be considered for enshrinement. This means Paul will have to sit out the 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons before being eligible in 2030. The Hall does review players who come out of retirement on an individual basis, but Paul is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer given his impressive resume.

  • Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA on February 13, 2026.
  • Paul will be eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2030.

The players

Chris Paul

A 12-time NBA All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection, Paul is considered one of the greatest point guards of his era. He ranks second in NBA history in total assists and steals.

LeBron James

A future Hall of Famer who could potentially be inducted in the same class as Chris Paul if he retires after the 2022-23 season.

Russell Westbrook

Another future Hall of Famer who could potentially be inducted in the same class as Chris Paul if he retires after the 2022-23 season.

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What’s next

The Hall of Fame will review Paul's eligibility in 2030, and he is widely expected to be a first-ballot inductee given his impressive career accomplishments.

The takeaway

Chris Paul's retirement marks the start of the clock on his eventual enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Despite never winning an NBA championship, Paul's 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA nods, and historic rankings in assists and steals make him a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.