Clippers Sign Chris Paul for 21st NBA Season \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Chris Paul has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, reuniting with the team for what is expected to be his 21st and final NBA season. The 12-time All-Star will serve as a backup point guard behind James Harden. Paul played all 82 games last season for the Spurs and now returns home to Los Angeles.
Quick Looks
- Clippers confirm signing of Chris Paul for the 2024–25 NBA season.
- Paul previously led the Clippers to six playoff appearances from 2011–2017.
- He played all 82 games last season with San Antonio, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists.
- Paul joins a veteran-heavy roster with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Bradley Beal.
- The 39-year-old will serve as a reserve guard off the bench.
- Paul leads the Clippers all-time in assists with 4,023.
- Clippers aim to manage Harden’s minutes with Paul as a stabilizing veteran.
- LA finished 50-32 last season but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
- Team president Lawrence Frank emphasized Paul’s leadership and adaptability.
- Paul’s return is motivated in part by wanting to be closer to family in LA.
Deep Look
Veteran point guard Chris Paul is returning to where one of his most iconic NBA chapters was written — the Los Angeles Clippers. The team officially announced Monday that Paul has signed for what’s widely expected to be his 21st and final NBA season, bringing a celebrated career nearly full circle.
Paul, 39, joins a loaded Clippers roster as a reserve point guard, stepping into a role that emphasizes experience, leadership, and the kind of savvy only two decades in the league can bring. According to team president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, the Clippers had been eyeing Paul’s return since the start of free agency and saw him as a perfect fit for a bench unit that needs steadiness and vision.
“Chris is one of the most impactful players ever to wear a Clippers uniform,” Frank said. “It’s appropriate that he returns to the team for this chapter of his career.”
Paul played for the San Antonio Spurs last season, suiting up for all 82 games, making him the first player in league history to do so in their 20th NBA season or beyond. He averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and shot 43% from the field, proving that while he may have aged, his fundamentals and court vision remain elite.
Though multiple teams expressed interest, Paul had made it clear he wanted to finish his career close to his family in Los Angeles. That wish, paired with the Clippers’ postseason aspirations, made this reunion a logical and emotional decision.
Paul’s role this time around will be different. He’ll operate primarily as a bench facilitator, supporting a guard-heavy lineup that includes James Harden, Bradley Beal, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kris Dunn. The Clippers intend to preserve Harden, who logged nearly 2,800 minutes last season at age 35, and see Paul as crucial depth in a league where injuries often derail championship hopes.
“He is joining us as a reserve point guard and is excited to fill whatever role [head coach] Tyronn Lue asks him to play,” Frank said. “Role awareness, especially in this next roster spot, will be critical.”
The move also has emotional weight. Paul was the heart of the Clippers’ “Lob City” era, alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and helped lead the franchise to six consecutive playoff appearances from 2011 to 2017. During his first Clippers stint, Paul made five All-Star teams and left as the franchise’s all-time assists leader with 4,023 dimes. He averaged 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals over 409 games.
After leaving Los Angeles for Houston in 2017 in pursuit of a championship, Paul would go on to play for the Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs, with deep playoff runs and multiple standout seasons along the way. Notably, he helped lead the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.
Despite his age, Paul remains one of the most respected floor generals in basketball history, known for his surgical pick-and-roll play, elite basketball IQ, and vocal leadership. He has a strong relationship with many of the Clippers’ current players and coaches and is expected to play an important locker-room role.
The Clippers, coming off a 50-32 season, are again in championship-or-bust mode. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs and are now reloading with added depth. Along with Paul, the team has added Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and John Collins to a core that includes Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Bogdanovic.
While Paul will no longer start or log 35 minutes a night, his impact off the bench, particularly in managing second-unit offense and late-game situations, could be pivotal during an 82-game grind—and especially in the playoffs.
Paul enters the 2024–25 season with a staggering list of accolades:
- 12× All-Star
- 4× All-NBA First Team
- 6× NBA steals leader
- Over 21,000 career points and 11,000 assists
His final season in the NBA will also be a victory lap of sorts, allowing fans across the country to honor one of the game’s most respected veterans.
“It worked out,” Paul said in a brief statement. “This place feels like home to me.”
Clippers Sign Chris
You must Register or Login to post a comment.