Chris Paul’s Clippers Exit Marks a Quiet End to a Legendary Career
In a season where nothing has gone right for the LA Clippers, the franchise made another stunning move early Wednesday morning, parting ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul. The 12-time All-Star, who had already announced this would be his final NBA season, now finds himself off the roster just 21 games into the campaign.
Paul appeared to learn the news in the early hours of the morning while in Atlanta, where the Clippers are preparing to face the Hawks. At 2:40 a.m.
ET, Paul posted a short but telling message to his Instagram story: “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” followed by a peace emoji. It was a raw, unfiltered moment from one of the game’s most respected veterans - and a jarring one for fans who’ve followed his storied career.
This move wasn’t Paul’s decision, according to league sources. The Clippers made the call, and team president Lawrence Frank confirmed it in a statement later that morning.
“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team,” Frank said. “Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career.
I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance.
I accept responsibility for the record we have right now.”
It’s been a brutal season in Los Angeles. The Clippers are 5-16 and coming off a blowout loss to the Miami Heat - a game in which Paul, James Harden, Brook Lopez, and Jordan Miller all sat out the fourth quarter.
Miller exited with a back injury, but the rest were healthy scratches. Harden had just committed his fifth turnover, Lopez hasn’t played since Nov. 23, and Paul - well, now we know that was his final appearance in a Clippers uniform.
This isn’t how anyone envisioned Paul’s second stint with the Clippers ending. He first arrived in 2011, helping launch the “Lob City” era and ushering in a stretch of sustained relevance for a franchise long defined by dysfunction.
During his first six seasons in LA, the Clippers never had a losing record - and they haven’t had one since. But this year’s team has looked disjointed from the jump, and Paul, now 40 and in his 21st NBA season, has struggled to find a role.
His numbers tell the story: 14.3 minutes per game, 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and just 32.1% shooting from the field - all career lows. The Clippers began phasing him out of the rotation before Bradley Beal’s season-ending hip injury briefly opened the door again. Paul returned to the court on Nov. 17 in Philadelphia, and when asked about being back in the mix, he kept it simple: “21 years, always ready.”
That’s been the hallmark of Paul’s career - always prepared, always professional. Even as his role diminished, he remained a presence on the bench, in the locker room, and among fans.
During a stop in Orlando, Paul took time to sign jerseys for a fan who had nearly every CP3 edition. And when the Clippers visited Charlotte - Paul’s home state - he was met with a warm ovation and promptly drilled a three-pointer, the first shot he took.
That game turned out to be the last win Paul would be part of this season.
The writing may have been on the wall. Paul hadn’t addressed the media since his heartfelt retirement post on Nov. 22, but he did acknowledge a tribute video played during a recent game against Memphis. Before the team’s road trip, he posted a screenshot of the Oxford Dictionary definition of “leeway” - a subtle but pointed message that seemed to hint at frustrations with the team’s internal dynamics.
Now, the Clippers face a decision. Paul signed a one-year deal in July and becomes eligible to be traded on Dec.
- A buyout is also on the table, though that would require Paul to give back some of his guaranteed money.
More likely, LA may look to use his salary as a trade chip to help manage their cap situation, particularly as they navigate the first apron.
Paul’s résumé speaks for itself: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defense, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Only John Stockton has more career assists. Paul is also the first player in league history to post 20,000 points and 10,000 assists - a statistical monument to his longevity and brilliance.
And yet, this isn’t the first time the Clippers have parted ways with a veteran in awkward fashion. Eric Bledsoe, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and PJ Tucker all saw their time in LA end abruptly. Now Paul joins that list, alongside longtime teammate Blake Griffin, who was traded to Detroit in 2018 - months after signing an extension that was supposed to make him a Clipper for life.
It’s a tough ending, but not an unfamiliar one in this league. Father Time is undefeated, and even the greatest careers rarely get the storybook finish.
Still, Paul’s legacy is secure. He changed the Clippers.
He changed the point guard position. And even in a limited role this season, he showed up, stayed ready, and handled his business with class.
Now, both he and the Clippers move forward - one looking toward the future, the other toward the finish line of a remarkable basketball journey.