Chris Paul reveals why he returned to the Los Angeles Clippers: "I've talked a lot about wanting to come back to play and be around my family"
Chris Paul, one of the greatest point guards of all time, is returning to the Los Angeles Clippers for his 21st season in the NBA, making Paul just the seventh player in league history to reach that milestone.
CP3 famously led the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, orchestrating the highly entertaining "Lob City" era with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Now 40-years-old, CP3's priorities have shifted and instead of chasing championships, he's focused on being with his family.
Paul explained his decision to return to the City of Angels during his introductory press conference at the Intuit Dome.
"You can chase a championship, you can do all these different things, but there's nothing like your support system, your family, your friends, all this different stuff. I've talked a lot about wanting to come back to play and be around my family… Don't get it twisted. Every game y'all see, I will put my heart into."
Los Angeles is home
Ever since Paul was traded to the Clips in 2011, his family has been rooted in Los Angeles. The veteran point guard spent the last eight seasons in Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio. He significantly improved each of his teams, most notably taking the Suns to the Finals, but his heart was in Los Angeles, with his family.
"This is one of those things I kind of manifested for a long time, sort of tried to speak it into existence," Paul said. "Because I love to hoop, I love to play this game, but I love my family more than any of it."
The 12-time All-Star also looks forward to playing in front of his die-hard fans in the brand new Intuit Dome. In his press conference, Paul complimented Clippers fans while taking a jab at the glitzy, Hollywood fans of the Lakers.
"The thing I've always really appreciated about being a Clipper is that it's real fans. Y'all ain't coming to the game just for the look, just to show up... I think there's always been a sincere appreciation and love."
That sincere appreciation from Clippers fans is truly deserved in Paul's case, as he transformed the franchise from an afterthought that never won even 60 percent of its games in a season to a playoff fixture. Now the Clippers have the NBA's longest streak of consecutive winning seasons, and it all started with the arrival of "The Point God" in 2011.
When Paul arrived in Los Angeles in 2011, his former teammate Blake Griffin said it put them on the map. While his return to the franchise he helped turnaround isn't likely to be as impactful on the court, his role could be just as important.Chris Paul's new role
Paul is slated to be a reserve point guard, despite starting every game for the Spurs last season. This iteration of Paul on the Clippers will be less about highlights and more about veteran leadership and unmatched experience.
"If I'm really honest, I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary," Paul said. "I didn't even care what the team looked like. I just wanted to be home, be here with the Clippers."
Paul got his wish, and 14 years after sparking the Clippers' rise, he will be playing in front of adoring fans who fondly remember his lobs and ankle-breaking crossovers. More importantly, CP3 will be surrounded by family as he finishes his career on his own terms.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
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