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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers' Chris Paul ‘isn't ruling out' playing additional NBA seasons
The post Clippers' Chris Paul 'isn't ruling out' playing additional NBA seasons appeared first on ClutchPoints. After Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul hinted that 2025-26 could be his last, could an unsuccessful campaign alter his plans? Paul agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.6 million with the Clippers this summer, which occurred weeks after Paul was considering offers as a free agent. Now, after agreeing to a new one-year deal, Chris is reportedly backtracking on his hint of playing up to 21 NBA seasons. With two decades under his belt, Paul isn't ruling out a potential 22nd NBA season, per ESPN's Malika Andrews. 'Chris Paul says he isn't ruling out playing beyond the 2025-26 season,' Andrews reported while promoting an exclusive one-on-one with Paul. After six seasons (2011-2017) with the Clippers, Paul will reunite with his former team in the 2025-26 season, teaming up with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Bradley Beal as one of the many additions to Los Angeles amidst a busy offseason. The Clippers also acquired John Collins in a three-team trade, and signed longtime Milwaukee Bucks All-Star center Brook Lopez to a two-year deal. Chris Paul hints at final season ahead of 2025-26 campaign Before making his decision amid free agency, Clippers' Chris Paul made it clear that he intended to finish his career in 2025-26. While reportedly considering the Suns, the Bucks, and, of course, a reunion with the Clippers, Paul felt privileged to say he's played 20 NBA seasons. Not many NBA players reach 20 years, especially guards. However, Paul feels blessed to be able to say that ahead of his 21st season and had an eye-opening response to Jemele Hill's question about how long his career will continue, per Underdog's X, formerly Twitter. 'At the most, a year,' said Paul with a smile. 'I just finished my 20th season, which is a blessing in itself.' Paul and the Clippers could emerge as contenders for the title against the champion Thunder. Related: Chris Paul gets 100% role about Spurs' role in prolonged NBA career Related: Clippers' Chris Paul 'by any means necessary' message will have fans hyped
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Paul glad to be back home in L.A. with his family and the Clippers
Before Chris Paul's voice echoed through the room, his reasons for returning home were staring at him. His three children, perched quietly next to their mom, Jada Crawley, watched as Paul talked about why he decided to return to the Clippers. Paul's mother sat in the second row of the news conference with a beaming smile. Chris Paul was back home. 'It was a no-brainer. The easiest decision in this is sitting right up here,' Paul said, gesturing to his family in the front three rows. 'Right here, it's my family.' When Paul was first introduced as a Clipper in December 2011, he spoke of measuring up against 'big brother' Chauncey Billups and soaring alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan — a core that would lob their way into Clippers lore. Paul's first message to L.A. were three constants — the allure of the city, the talent beside him and a title that still eluded them. On Monday, Paul traded the sharp lines of his 2011 debut suit and red silk tie for something looser — flowing black slacks, red Nike Air Jordan 1s and a flash of gold on his wrist. And 14 years after his L.A. premiere, he spoke of sharing the court with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. But this time, the Clippers star-studded lineup wasn't what lit his path home. '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.' Gratitude washed over Paul's words — for his year in San Antonio, for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and for a 21st season. But anchoring it all was his family. Paul is no longer thinking about playing in another city away from his family. The tearful send-offs are behind him. His mornings now begin with sunrise workouts with his son. He winds down in the evenings talking to his daughter. 'To tell you the truth, my wife and my kids probably [are] tired of me already,' Paul said, his wife laughing. 'Because ever since I got the news, every time we home, I'm just jumping around talking about, 'I'm home, I'm home, I'm home.'' As familiar as he is with the Clippers, Paul said his return still felt surreal — the No. 3 stitched onto a Clippers jersey, his name gleaming above the locker and a 'Welcome Back' message circling the halo board. What makes it even sweeter? A brand new stage. The last time Paul played for the Clippers, they played at Staples Center (now Arena). On Monday, he got an up-close look at the Intuit Dome. 'Walking around now, it's a total different feeling,' Paul said. 'Last time I walked through here, I was just sort of peeking because I didn't know if a guy on the current team was here and they [were] like, 'What the hell are you doing here?'' Paul noted the franchise's makeover — new colors, new logo — but one thing, he said, hadn't budged: the fans. One corner of Arena still lives staunchly in Paul's memory. Section 114 housed the pockets of Clippers die-hards he'd glance at after every dagger three or rim-rattling "Lob City" spectacle. Some fans, Paul said, even pledged loyalty in ink. Back then, some made a pact that if the Clippers scored 114 points in a game, they'd get a '114' tattoo. When the team delivered, so did they. 'The fans here are like none other,' Paul said. 'They are really fans of the game. … The team and everybody, they deserve good things and deserve to see this team win.' Read more: Chris Paul is a 'natural fit' for Clippers as reserve point guard Paul got a full dose of nostalgia a short time later when dozens of Clippers fans gave him a standing ovation, chanting, 'CP3!' He sank into his seat, shoulders folding inward as he clasped his hands — emotion creeping in as the cheers grew louder. 'This is crazy,' he said. So as Paul rose from the podium and thanked the media, his mother held her gaze, her smile still stitched in place. For eight years, she'd grown used to goodbyes. But this time, there would be no parting hug. '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.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chris Paul is back with the Clippers and it means so much to him
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Chris Paul walked into an empty Intuit Dome on Monday, looked up at the massive halo board, and saw his name. His No. 3 jersey hung in the home locker room. Both things confirmed that Paul was back where he'd wanted to be for a long time – with the Los Angeles Clippers. He signed on last week for an off-the-bench role in the hopes of winning an NBA championship alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. 'It's kind of wild, kind of crazy, still kind of speechless,' Paul said. 'This is one of those things I kind of manifested for a long time, sort of tried to speak it into existence, but you just never know if it's really going to happen.' Last summer, Paul reached out to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and asked for a tour of Intuit Dome, which opened nearly a year ago. 'I was just sort of peeking because I didn't know if a guy on the current team was here and they were like, 'What the hell he doing here walking around?'' Paul said, smiling. 'Walking around just now, it's a totally different feeling.' For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Paul frequently glanced down at his family sitting in the first row – wife Jada, 16-year-old son Chris Jr., and 12-year-old daughter Camryn. They continued living in Los Angeles when he left the Clippers six years ago. That led to watching their father on TV and sharing quick phone conversations before school. 'I love to hoop, I love to play this game, but I love my family more than any of it,' he said. He's already making up for lost time. He lifted weights with his son and recently returned from attending his daughter's AAU basketball tournament. 'To tell you the truth, my wife and my kids probably tired of me already,' he said. 'Ever since I got the news, every time we're home, I'm just jumping around talking about, 'I'm home! I'm home!'' Paul left the Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017 because he felt it was time for a change, and he wanted to compete for a championship with Harden. 'It's wild that you get this opportunity again after those two years and the success that we had,' Paul said. 'We definitely know we had unfinished business, so we get a chance to see what's going on here.' After two seasons in Houston, Paul went to Oklahoma City for one season. He then spent three years with Phoenix and one with Golden State before joining the Spurs last season. They finished 13th in the Western Conference at 34-48. '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 joins Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James as active 40-year-olds in the NBA. 'It's going to be cool,' he said. 'It's a lot of gratitude to still get a chance to play at this age.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Paul is back with the Clippers and it means so much to him
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Chris Paul walked into an empty Intuit Dome on Monday, looked up at the massive halo board and saw his name. His No. 3 jersey hung in the home locker room. Both things confirmed that Paul was back where he'd wanted to be for a long time, with the Los Angeles Clippers. He signed on last week for an off-the-bench role in the hopes of winning an NBA championship alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. 'It's kind of wild, kind of crazy, still kind of speechless,' Paul said. 'This is one of those things I kind of manifested for a long time, sort of tried to speak it into existence, but you just never know if it's really going to happen.' Last summer, Paul reached out to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and asked for a tour of Intuit Dome, which opened nearly a year ago. 'I was just sort of peeking because I didn't know if a guy on the current team was here and they were like, 'What the hell he doing here walking around?'' Paul said, smiling. "Walking around just now it's a totally different feeling.' Paul frequently glanced down at his family sitting in the first row — wife Jada, 16-year-old son Chris Jr. and 12-year-old daughter Camryn. They continued living in Los Angeles when he left the Clippers six years ago. That led to watching their father on TV and sharing quick phone conversations before school. 'I love to hoop, I love to play this game but I love my family more than any of it,' he said. He's already making up for lost time. He lifted weights with his son and recently returned from attending his daughter's AAU basketball tournament. 'To tell you the truth, my wife and my kids probably tired of me already,' he said. 'Ever since I got the news, every time we're home, I'm just jumping around talking about 'I'm home, I'm home.'' Paul left the Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017 because he felt it was time for a change and he wanted to compete for a championship with Harden. 'It's wild that you get this opportunity again after those two years and the success that we had,' Paul said. 'We definitely know we had unfinished business so we get a chance to see what's going on here.' After two seasons in Houston, Paul went to Oklahoma City for one season. He then spent three years with Phoenix and one with Golden State before joining the Spurs last season. They finished 13th in the Western Conference at 34-48. '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 joins Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James as active 40-year-olds in the NBA. 'It's going to be cool,' he said. 'It's a lot of gratitude to still get a chance to play at this age.' ___ AP NBA:
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Chris Paul is back with the Clippers and it means so much to him
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Chris Paul walked into an empty Intuit Dome on Monday, looked up at the massive halo board and saw his name. His No. 3 jersey hung in the home locker room. Both things confirmed that Paul was back where he'd wanted to be for a long time, with the Los Angeles Clippers. He signed on last week for an off-the-bench role in the hopes of winning an NBA championship alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
