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Chris Paul returns home for his 21st and likely final NBA season

Nine years after his departure, the 40-year-old veteran point guard returns to Los Angeles after a season in San Antonio. This one-year, $3.6 million signing is likely his final campaign before retirement.
Chris Paul returns home for his 21st and likely final NBA season
Photo Credit : Gary A. Vasquez - Imagn Images

Chris Paul makes his grand return to the Los Angeles Clippers. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the 12-time All-Star point guard has reached an agreement with the California franchise for a one-year contract worth $3.6 million. At 40, Paul is preparing for his 21st NBA season, which will very likely be his last before retiring.

The North Carolina native had several suitors this summer, notably Phoenix where he played from 2020 to 2023. The Suns remained a viable option as the team was still looking for a starting point guard. However, Paul chose to return to the organization where he experienced his best years between 2011 and 2017, and also a city near which his family has lived since his Clippers days.

A return to the roots of the « Lob City » era

This signing brings back many memories of the Clippers’ glorious « Lob City » era. Paul had transformed a franchise long considered the Lakers’ little sister into a competitive team, alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Together, they restored Los Angeles’s prestige with spectacular dunks and six consecutive playoff appearances.

During his six seasons with the Clippers, Paul earned five All-Star selections, five All-NBA nominations, and six All-Defense distinctions. Despite these remarkable individual performances, the team never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, notably after squandering a 3-1 lead against Houston in 2015.

Last season in San Antonio, Paul proved he remained an impactful player despite his advanced age. He played all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career, averaging 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. His 37.7% three-point shooting on 4.5 attempts per game shows he maintains his offensive efficiency.

In an interview with Jemele Hill this summer, Paul discussed his career’s end: « One year maximum. I just finished my 20th season, which is already a blessing. I’ve spent more than half my life in the NBA. But these years with my kids, my family, I can’t get them back. »

Paul joins an ambitious Clippers team that has also recruited Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and John Collins this summer. Alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the veteran hopes to finally secure the NBA championship that’s still missing from his exceptional career achievements.

Sylvain Sultat suit la NBA au quotidien, entre performances individuelles, dynamiques collectives et grandes histoires de la ligue. Sur BeBasket, il décrypte l’actualité américaine avec passion et régularité, toujours à l’affût des tendances qui font bouger le monde du basket.

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