The Chris Paul saga continues to cast a long shadow over the LA Clippers, even after his abrupt release. Nearly two weeks after the 12-time All-Star was let go, questions about his departure are still swirling - and now, even the team’s biggest stars are weighing in.
On Sunday, Kawhi Leonard spoke publicly for the first time about Paul’s sudden exit, and his response made one thing clear: he was just as surprised as the rest of us.
“Surprised at it,” Leonard said when asked about Paul being released. **“He’s always been a willing teammate when I’ve spoke to him.
Only thing I could talk about is our conversations. And they’ve always been positive and team-forward.”
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Leonard’s comments paint a picture of a respectful, professional relationship between two stars - one that seemed to be built on mutual understanding and a shared commitment to winning. But when it came to the decision to part ways with Paul, Leonard made it clear he wasn’t in the loop.
“I didn’t have nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know what was going on,” he added.
That admission adds another layer to what’s becoming an increasingly complicated story. Back on December 3, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank announced the team would be releasing Paul. Instead of traveling with the team to Atlanta that day, Paul was sent back to Los Angeles - a move that caught many around the league off guard.
Since then, more details have surfaced about the internal dynamics that may have led to Paul’s exit. Reports suggest that Paul had been outspoken behind the scenes, holding both coaches and front office executives accountable in a way that may not have sat well with everyone. There were even claims that head coach Ty Lue hadn’t spoken to Paul for weeks leading up to the release - a striking revelation considering Paul’s role and experience.
Still, despite the way things ended in LA, Paul hasn’t faded quietly into the background.
Just this past weekend, he was in Las Vegas for the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals, where he watched the San Antonio Spurs - one of his former teams - take down the Oklahoma City Thunder to punch their ticket to the final. After the win, Paul shared a heartfelt moment with Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.
“Love you, man!” Paul told Wembanyama as the two embraced postgame - a moment captured and tweeted by Spurs beat reporter Dusty Garza. It was a small interaction, but one that spoke volumes about the respect Paul commands across the league, especially from the next generation of stars.
Though Paul has already announced that this will be his final NBA season, his presence around the game hasn’t diminished. Whether it’s mentoring young stars like Wembanyama or staying connected with former teams, Paul remains a figure of influence. And depending on how things unfold, we might not have seen the last of him in an official NBA capacity - whether that’s on the bench, in the front office, or somewhere else entirely.
For now, though, the Clippers are left to move forward without him - and with more questions than answers about how one of the most respected point guards of his generation was let go without warning.