Chris Paul and his return to Los Angeles was supposed to be a storybook finish. Instead, it ended overnight, abruptly and publicly.
The 40-year-old guard was released following ongoing conflict with teammates, coaches, and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.
A league source said Paul “called out fellow Clippers players, coaches and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank during his current stint with the team,” adding that although Paul apologized, “everyone was fed up,” according to The Los Angeles Times.
Another league source told the publication that the veteran’s strong voice in the locker room has become difficult for teams to deal with and when asked about his future options after the Clippers’ decision.
Paul seemed blindsided by the news, posting at around three in the morning, “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” punctuated with a peace emoji.
Lawrence Frank later released a statement to multiple outlets confirming Paul’s departure.
“We are parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be a part of the team,” Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
Paul’s exit comes as the Clippers sit near the bottom of the Western Conference at 5 wins and 16 losses, their worst start in more than a decade. Kawhi Leonard has been limited by injuries, Bradley Beal is out for the season, and Tyronn Lue’s rotation has been in constant flux. Paul himself averaged 2.6 and 3.3 assists in 14 minutes per game, all career lows.
READ MORE: JJ Redick Jokes That ‘Monstars’ Took Lakers Talent in Loss to Suns
