Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, who is in his 21st season in the NBA, has announced that he will retire after this season.

In a social media montage celebrating his career, Paul captioned: "What a ride… Still so much left… Grateful for this last chapter."

Paul, who hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He spent six years with the Hornets before being traded to the Clippers, where he played for another six seasons.

After his time with the Clippers, Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets and played there for two years. He then joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for one season. Following that, Paul spent his final seasons with the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs before returning to the Clippers.

During his 21-year career, Paul achieved numerous accolades, including the Rookie of the Year award in 2006, 12 All-Star selections, 11 spots on the All-NBA teams and a place on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. Paul has averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 assists per game over the course of his career. He ranks second all-time in steals and assists.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Paul announces he'll retire after 21 seasons in the NBA

Reporting by Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect