Surprise—Chris Paul is re-joining the Los Angeles Clippers! The 6-foot-5, 205-pound veteran guard signed a one-year contract for $3.6 million, which will start him on his 21st NBA season. We think it’s a great development for his career. In so many ways, he reunites with the perfect franchise — one that has arguably helped shape his path the most. Paul’s return comes nearly a decade after his exit from the Clippers, which he admits “wasn’t the prettiest thing.”
Fans at Intuit Dome gave a raucous reception to the announcement. Almost a thousand of his enthusiastic supporters turned out to celebrate his political resurrection! Paul’s family, including his wife Jada and children Chris Jr. and Camryn, remained in Los Angeles throughout his time playing in various cities since being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017. For the time being, though, the family can appreciate their deep local ties as Paul begins this exciting new chapter with the Clippers.
There’s no disputing Paul’s durability. He played all 82 games last season for the San Antonio Spurs. He did this in averaging 8.8 points, 7.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting the heck out of the ball at 42.7% overall and 37.7% from three. He’s currently second all-time in assists and steals, behind only fellow Hall-of-Famer John Stockton. He is 36th on the all-time scoring chart with 23,011 career points.
During his first tenure with the Clippers, Paul was named an All-Star five times. He became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists. He expressed enthusiasm about being part of a competitive team once again, stating, “I’m just so excited about the moves that the team has made this offseason.” With the addition of all-star brothers Brad and Brook Lopez, the magic has begun. Paul’s hopes for a strong first season run high with this exciting new gang of youthful hotshots.
The purpose of Paul’s role within that team will be profoundly different than it has been over the last 20 years. He acknowledged this shift, emphasizing his desire to show younger players the dedication required at this level: “My role on this team is obviously different than it’s been the past 20 years… if I can show some of the guys what it looks like every day to clock in and clock out, I’m excited for it.”
Reflecting on his return to Los Angeles, Paul remarked, “It was a no-brainer. If I’m really honest, I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary.” The promise reinvestment illustrates his willingness to bring change. He is prepared to seize the moment and assume a leadership position, both on the court and in the community.
In 2021, Paul and the Phoenix Suns came within two games of winning the NBA title. They beat the Clippers in the conference finals and then lost in the Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Now, Paul carries that invaluable playoff experience to a new Clippers team. His past collaborations with stars like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard provide a foundation for what could be a successful season ahead.
As he returns down this new path with the Clippers, Chris Paul has the added incentive to result in stirred-up hoes. “I’m grateful. I’m going to come out every single night, whatever that looks like, and try to make sure I show up for the team,” he stated.
Leave a Reply