Chris Paul described the Los Angeles Clippers’ decision to send him home during the 2025-26 season as one of the most disrespectful experiences of his NBA career.
Speaking on the “Build or Break” podcast, Paul reflected on an abrupt ending to his second stint with the Clippers, saying the experience affected not only him but also his wife, children and wider circle.
“What’s interesting about that whole situation is, it’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured,” Paul said, per New York Post. “I’ve been through a lot of wild stuff in my career, and having older kids and a wife who’s very tapped in, and they know the daily goings on as far as that team and that organization. Obviously I was upset, but my family, my people, everybody…”
Paul also questioned whether his long-standing relationship with the Clippers organization ultimately mattered when the franchise decided to move on.
“I think just because of the investment we made in the team for as long as we have, and to see the way stuff was handled. What it lets you know is that no matter what you do or what you’ve done, nobody cares,” Paul said.
The 2025-26 season was supposed to serve as a farewell tour for Paul in Los Angeles. Instead, the Clippers sent the 40-year-old guard home in December after he appeared in 16 games, averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes per game.
Los Angeles subsequently traded Paul to the Toronto Raptors on February 4, but Toronto waived him eight days later without him appearing in a game. Paul announced his retirement from the NBA on February 13, ending a 21-year career.
Paul’s second stint with the Clippers lasted only part of one season, but his first run with the franchise established him as one of the most important players in its history. He spent six seasons with Los Angeles from 2011-12 through 2016-17, making the All-Star team in every season and earning All-NBA First Team honors three times.
During that initial Clippers tenure, Paul averaged 18.7 points and 9.8 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. His 2013-14 season included 19.1 points and 10.7 assists per game, while he posted 19.1 points and 10.2 assists in 2014-15.
Across 21 NBA seasons, Paul finished with 1,370 regular-season games, 16.8 points, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He ranks second in NBA history in both assists and steals, made 12 All-Star teams and 11 All-NBA teams, and became the first player to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists.
Paul also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and served as president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 through 2021.
Despite his individual résumé, Paul retired without an NBA championship. His final season brought an especially abrupt conclusion to a career that began with the New Orleans Hornets in 2005-06 and included stops with the Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before his return to Los Angeles.
