Chris Paul announced that the Los Angeles Clippers are sending him home from their road trip, a surprising development in what is likely his final NBA season. Around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Paul shared on social media, “Just learned I’m being sent home,” accompanied by a peace emoji.
The Clippers, who have struggled this season, were traveling to Atlanta for a game against the Hawks on Wednesday night. Following a loss to Miami on Monday, the team’s disappointing season record dropped to 5-16.
At 40 years old, Paul is in his 21st NBA season and had hinted last month that this would be his last. The 12-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist has been named to the All-NBA first team four times and ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists. He’s the first player to reach 20,000 points while also having at least 10,000 assists.
Paul is often regarded as the greatest player in Clippers history, leading them to winning seasons over six years, including their first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series wins from 2011 to 2017. He rejoined the Clippers as a free agent last July, offering hope for a championship alongside stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ top basketball executive, confirmed early Wednesday that Paul is no longer with the team and suggested they would seek to trade him. Frank, who signed Paul to a $3.6 million contract to return, praised Paul as a legendary figure in the franchise and took responsibility for the team’s poor performance, clarifying that Paul was not to blame.
Paul has not addressed the media since hinting at retirement in his hometown of North Carolina, but he did reflect on his Clippers career publicly during a timeout last week at the Intuit Dome, where a tribute video labeled him “Point God” concluded with congratulations.
Limited playing time has kept Paul from shouldering blame for the Clippers’ struggles this season. He has averaged career lows with 2.6 points and 3.3 assists in just 14.3 minutes per game and missed five consecutive games in mid-November. In his final game against the Heat, Paul played 15 minutes, scoring eight points and assisting three, as Harden and other starters were benched, highlighting the ongoing team turmoil under coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers have been inconsistent, entering Wednesday’s game with one of the worst records in the Western Conference, tied with Sacramento. Leonard has only played 10 games due to injury, and guard Bradley Beal is out for the season after hip surgery.
Despite holding the NBA’s longest active winning streak at 14 games, the Clippers have shown no signs of championship contention this season. Losing Paul, a historically talented point guard and fan favorite, marks a significant shift for the franchise.
Fan Take: Chris Paul’s departure signals a major turning point for the Clippers and leaves fans wondering what the future holds for both the team and the veteran star. For basketball enthusiasts, this news underscores how even legends can face unexpected challenges late in their careers, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of the sport.
