The Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday released veteran point guard Chris Paul, in a surprising move as the team struggles near the bottom of the NBA Western Conference standings.
Paul, 40, announced his departure on social media early Wednesday, revealing that he had left the Clippers during their road trip in Atlanta. “Just found out I’m being sent home,” he wrote. Paul had returned to the Clippers this season on a one-year deal and has reportedly been planning to retire from the NBA at the end of the campaign.
Clippers chief Lawrence Frank later confirmed the exit, stating:
“We are parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be a part of the team. We will work with him on the next step of his career.”
Paul spent six seasons with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and remains the franchise leader in total assists and steals per game. Despite helping the team reach the playoffs every season during his tenure, the Clippers never advanced past the Western Conference semi-finals.
Reports from ESPN suggested that weeks of tension between Paul and coach Ty Lue contributed to the split. Sources said the two had not been on speaking terms for several weeks, with the organization believing Paul had become disruptive. Lue echoed this sentiment, saying, “It just wasn’t a good fit. We understood that. It was an organization, they made the choice, and so moving forward, we’ve got to see what we do.”
This season, the Clippers are struggling with a 5-16 record, placing them one spot off the bottom of the Western Conference. Paul, recruited as a bench player, has averaged just 2.9 points per game in 16 appearances.
Clippers chief Frank emphasized that Paul was not to blame for the team’s poor start. “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,” he said.
The veteran guard’s departure marks the end of an era for the franchise, as the Clippers look to restructure amid ongoing challenges on and off the court.
