The Los Angeles Clippers made one of the most unexpected moves of the season on Tuesday, sending veteran point guard Chris Paul home as the franchise begins what appears to be a dramatic internal reset.
The decision was first reported by Chris Haynes, who called it a “bizarre severing ties move” involving a player who had publicly committed to finishing his final NBA season with the organization.
The Clippers issued a formal statement shortly after the report, confirming that Paul “will no longer be with the team” and emphasizing that he was not responsible for the team’s 5–16 start.
In the team message, leadership acknowledged the difficult decision and accepted accountability for the poor record. “We will work with him on the next step of his career,” the statement read.
Paul, 40, had already announced that the 2025–26 season would be his last, closing a Hall of Fame résumé that spans two decades, 12 All-Star selections, more than 1,300 career games, and a long stretch of elite playmaking seasons with New Orleans, the Clippers, Houston, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix.
His limited role this season—14.2 minutes per game and 2.6 points—reflected the Clippers’ attempt to use him as a stabilizing presence behind James Harden while also preserving his body.
The franchise, however, has spiraled out of control through the opening quarter of the season. Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and has struggled to generate cohesion despite Harden’s 27.7 points and 8.7 assists per game, Kawhi Leonard’s 25.4 points, and Ivica Zubac’s 11.5 rebounds.
The backcourt rotation has shifted repeatedly, with Kris Dunn, Bradley Beal (out for season after hip surgery), and Bogdan Bogdanovic all logging sizable minutes. Even with those adjustments, the Clippers have been unable to fix their defensive issues, ball security problems, or late-game execution.
Paul’s departure leaves the team without one of the few veteran voices capable of steadying the locker room during a stretch defined by inconsistency. His reputation as one of the league’s best communicators and decision-makers was viewed internally as a valuable piece of Harden’s high-usage playmaking role.
The Clippers now face a challenging path forward, with scrutiny increasing around a roster that was assembled to contend but has instead delivered one of the league’s slowest starts.
For now, one of basketball’s most decorated floor generals ends what may be his final Clippers chapter in abrupt and unexpected fashion—an exit that underscores just how quickly Los Angeles’ season has unraveled.
