The Los Angeles Clippers’ 2026 season ended in the NBA play-in tournament, and Chris Paul reacted on social media with a widely circulated “hater’s funeral” meme posted on his Instagram story.
The image featured the format commonly used online to signal finality after a rival’s defeat, with no additional caption from Paul beyond the post itself.
The post came shortly after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Clippers 126-121 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday night, eliminating Los Angeles from postseason contention.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 35 points, including 27 in the second half, while the Warriors erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure the comeback win.
The Clippers led 98-85 with under 10 minutes remaining but finished the game on a 16-6 run as Golden State closed with late shot-making and defensive stops.
Paul’s post carried added context due to his past with the franchise, where he previously served as a franchise centerpiece before his departure in a controversial mid-career split years earlier.
In 2025, Paul returned to the Clippers on a one-year contract, later appearing in limited action before the organization moved on from him in December.
He was sent home following reported internal disagreements and later traded to Toronto in a multi-team deal before being released and announcing retirement.
The Clippers entered the 2026 play-in as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference standings, finishing the regular season at 42-40 before the defeat ended their playoff hopes.
Golden State advanced to face Phoenix, with the winner earning a first-round matchup against Oklahoma City.
The elimination marked the end of Los Angeles’ 15-season streak of winning campaigns, as the franchise missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
