Following a promising 2024-25 season that saw them win 50 games and push the Denver Nuggets to a seven-game playoff series, the LA Clippers added several decorated veterans in the offseason to bolster their roster for another postseason run.
However, that strategy appears to have backfired. Less than two months into the new season, the Clippers are reportedly parting ways with 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the team is “sending home” the veteran, indicating he will be away from the organization indefinitely. Paul’s future remains uncertain, with a potential trade, release, or retirement all as possibilities.
The move comes as the Clippers have stumbled to a 5-16 record, placing them among the worst teams in the Western Conference. The 40-year-old Paul has struggled significantly in his return to Los Angeles. In 16 appearances off the bench, he has averaged career lows of 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. His shooting splits have been particularly poor, at .321 from the field, .333 from three-point range, and .308 from the free-throw line.
This stint marks a stark contrast to Paul’s celebrated first tenure with the Clippers during the “Lob City” era from 2011 to 2017. Playing alongside All-Stars Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, he cemented his Hall of Fame legacy, averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 2.2 steals over 409 games. During that dominant six-year run, Paul earned five All-NBA selections, six All-Defensive First Team nods, and five top-seven MVP finishes, leading the team to five seasons with 51 or more wins.
Following his time in Los Angeles, Paul experienced deep playoff success, helping lead the Houston Rockets to the 2018 Western Conference Finals and guiding the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. With deep ties to the city, Paul chose to return this offseason, signing a veteran’s minimum contract after starting all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs last year.
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