Chris Paul was looking for a couple of things in a new team for the upcoming season. First, and most importantly, to be close to his family in Los Angeles (something he was missing last season in San Antonio). Second, to be on a team that will be playing meaningful games this season and be a playoff threat.
Paul found all that in agreeing to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN, and since made official and confirmed by the Clippers.
“Chris is one of the most impactful players ever to wear a Clippers uniform and it’s appropriate that he returns to the team for this chapter of his career,” Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. “Chris will help fortify our backcourt with his exceptional ballhandling, playmaking and shooting. He is joining us as a reserve point guard and is excited to fill whatever role [coach Tyronn] Lue asks him to play. He wants to be part of the group and we’re fortunate to have him back.”
This is a one-year, veteran minimum contract. Paul, 40, had interest from multiple teams such as Milwaukee, Charlotte and Dallas, but because of his desire to be closer to his family it has long been assumed a reunion with the Clippers or Suns was the most likely outcome.
Chris Paul is going to be playing basketball during a season in which three of his former Clippers teammates are head coaches (J.J. Redick, Chauncey Billups, Willie Green) and two are commentators (Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford).
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) July 21, 2025
Paul previously played six seasons with the Clippers, leading the Lob City team with Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, and others, a team that was considered a contender in the West but was held back by injuries some years and painful playoff collapses in others. In his first five years with the Clippers, CP3 never finished lower than seventh in MVP voting, and was an All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense each of those five years. With the Clippers he averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists a game.
Paul’s role with the Clippers will be different this time around, and it will be different from last season with the Spurs, where he started all 82 games. As Frank noted, he will come off the bench behind a starting backcourt of James Harden and either Bradley Beal (for his offense) or Kris Dunn (for his defense).
This is a Clippers roster that looks good on paper but is older with players such as Paul (40), Brook Lopez (37), Nicolas Batum (36), James Harden (35), Kawhi Leonard (34) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (33 before training camp opens). Health and monitoring minutes will be a primary task for coach Tyronn Lue. The Clippers chose to get older and better this summer, with a chance to pivot and reshape this roster coming by 2027.
Age concerns aside, getting a solid point guard and floor general in CP3 on a one-year contract is a good signing for the Clippers.
