Chris Paul’s Clippers Exit: A Quiet End for a Loud Legacy
LAS VEGAS - For a player whose career has been defined by leadership, precision, and an unwavering will to win, Chris Paul’s quiet departure from the LA Clippers feels jarring. Earlier this month, the Clippers made the decision to send the veteran point guard home during a four-game road trip - a move that caught plenty of people around the league off guard, including some of Paul’s former teammates.
Paul, who had been a steady starter for the San Antonio Spurs just last season, found himself on the outside looking in with the Clippers. His role had diminished significantly this year, and his numbers reflected it: just 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 32.1% shooting from the field and 33.3% from deep. For a player who’s long been known for his efficiency and floor generalship, those numbers signaled that something wasn’t right.
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The situation reportedly came to a head following a heated exchange with associate head coach Jeff Van Gundy after a home loss to the Dallas Mavericks. That confrontation was the final straw, prompting the Clippers to send Paul home - a decision that unfolded mid-trip and left many around the league surprised.
“I’m super surprised at what happened with him [and the Clippers],” said one of Paul’s former Spurs teammates, echoing the sentiment felt by many who’ve shared the court with him.
Paul was recently spotted courtside in Las Vegas during the NBA Cup, sitting alongside Spurs legend Tony Parker to watch San Antonio take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the game, he was seen embracing Victor Wembanyama and reconnecting with several of his former Spurs teammates - a reminder of the impact he had during his short time there.
Last season in San Antonio, Paul started all 82 games, averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 28 minutes a night. He shot 42.7% from the field and a solid 37.7% from three. More than the numbers, though, it was his presence - steady, professional, and relentlessly focused on winning - that left a mark on the Spurs’ young core.
De’Aaron Fox, who joined the Spurs midseason in a trade from Sacramento, spoke highly of his brief time alongside Paul.
“CP was great,” Fox said. “He was a professional and he was a vet.
As soon as I got here, he asked me where I want the ball, what spots I like - things like that. The stuff you saw from him in New Orleans, when he first got to L.A., that’s who he still is.”
“He was great for the group last year,” Fox added. “Especially going through a lot of growing pains. I think everybody was appreciative of what he gave to the organization.”
Paul hasn’t officially announced that this is his final NBA season, but some recent social media posts have sparked speculation. One video showed him reflecting on his last game in his home state of North Carolina. Another took fans down memory lane, revisiting his days with the “Lob City” Clippers - a team that helped define a generation of fast-paced, high-flying basketball.
If this is the end for Chris Paul, it’s been one of the most decorated careers the league has ever seen. Over 21 seasons, he’s played in 1,370 regular-season games, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
He ranks second all-time in both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728), trailing only John Stockton in both categories. He also sits 41st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 23,058 points.
Whether or not he plays another NBA minute, Paul’s legacy is secure. He’s been the prototype for what a true point guard should be - a floor general, a competitor, a mentor, and a winner.
The ending in LA might not have been storybook, but the story itself? One of the greatest ever written at the position.