Latest news with #LosAngelesClippers
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
‘Unfinished business': Chris Paul on reuniting with former Rockets co-star James Harden
Six years after their reportedly acrimonious split as Rockets co-stars, Chris Paul and James Harden are teammates again with the Los Angeles Clippers. Six years after what appeared to be an acrimonious ending to their time together with the Houston Rockets, legendary point guards James Harden and Chris Paul are NBA teammates again. This time, it's with the Los Angeles Clippers, where Harden has played for the last two seasons and where Paul agreed to sign as a free agent this month. At Paul's introductory press conference, he reflected on his time with Harden in Houston, including a viral clip that seemingly showed them arguing on the bench during the 2019 playoffs. Paul's comments, as transcribed via Bleacher Report: We talked about it, and talked about the history of being there in Houston. And it's funny, because that clip that goes around. ... It was a lot of stuff, funnier and stuff like that, than that. That was just sort of our relationship. But I think that's what made that team so good. We got on each other in different situations, but that team, I can honestly say, is one of the funnest teams I have ever been on in my career. James is one of those guys that loves to be in the gym, all day long. And so it's wild, that you get that opportunity again. After those two years, and the success that we had, we definitely know we have unfinished business. From a Houston perspective, Paul's two years with the Harden-led Rockets brought lots of winning but a painful series of 'what could have been' musings. During Harden and Paul's first season together with the 2017-18 Rockets, Houston finished with a 65-17 record that remains the best in franchise history. They led the 2018 Western Conference finals over the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, 3-2, before losing the final two games and the series due in large part to Paul's ill-timed hamstring strain in the closing seconds of Game 5. In 2018-19, and with a roster that lost key defenders such as Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute during the previous offseason, the Rockets (53-29) never quite recaptured the same form. Falling short of expectations may have contributed to the alleged friction between Harden and Paul, and the latter was shipped to Oklahoma City in the ensuing offseason as part of a controversial trade bringing Russell Westbrook to Houston. A little over a year later, Harden himself asked for a trade, and Houston opted to reset and rebuild with young talent during the 2020-21 through 2022-23 seasons. Now, six years after their split in Houston, the former All-Star guards are together again with the Clippers. With Paul now 40 years old, he's taken on more of a secondary role in recent seasons, which could perhaps make this reunion bid and its playing style a bit more to Harden's liking. Led by newly acquired superstar Kevin Durant, Harden's former teammate in Oklahoma City and Brooklyn, the 2025-26 Rockets are widely viewed as being among the West favorites. With Paul and Harden joining forces again in Los Angeles, a potential Clippers-Rockets showdown in the 2026 playoffs would have no shortage of storylines. Last season, Houston (52-30) finished No. 2 in the West, while Los Angeles (50-32) was two games back in the No. 5 spot. From there, both the Rockets and Clippers were then eliminated in competitive first-round playoff series that required all seven games to decide. This offseason, each team is hoping that influential veteran acquisitions — such as Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela for the Rockets and Paul, Bradley Beal, and Brook Lopez for the Clippers — can help them level up during the season ahead. More: Former Rockets James Harden, Chris Paul to reunite with Clippers
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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 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" originally appeared on Basketball Network. 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 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 story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
"You got to check those boxes' — Kendrick Perkins leaves Chris Paul out of his top 10 point guards list
Chris Paul is a promising player (Image via Instagram / @cp3) A prominent NBA analyst's list of the top ten guards in the league did not include Chris Paul, the recently acquired star of the Los Angeles Clippers. Even though ESPN's Kendrick Perkins, who played against the said player in the AAU and then the NBA, considers him to be the real "point god," he places him in his Top 15 rather than the top 10. Recently, the analyst opened up about the same thing. Kendrick Perkins explains why Chris Paul falls outside his top 10 point guards The Los Angeles Clippers ' Chris Paul is seen by most as one of the greatest point guards ever in NBA history. The 40-year-old is now close to the end of his career as he begins his 21st season in the league. Kendrick Perkins made one comparison apparent, but he didn't provide a comprehensive list of those who rate higher than CP3. He has a higher opinion of the former Oklahoma City Thunder player Russell Westbrook. He stated during the most recent podcast episode Road Trippin': "I don't have CP3 ranked above Russell Westbrook. Like CP3 does a lot of things, changes the franchise, win a lot of games and things? Yes, absolutely. I would never take that away from him. Since he was drafted by the Pelicans, he changed that franchise…' He continued: "He goes to the Clippers, winning organization. Goes to the Phoenix Suns, winning organization. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Making history: These 5 timepieces set world records at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025 CNA Read More Undo But when it comes to rankings, you got to check those boxes and you got to have the accolades. And when I say accolades, yes, championships and Finals MVP. But CP3 don't have one MVP." Originally broadcast on Basketball Network, Kendrick Perkins discussed why he does not consider Chris Paul to be one of the top ten point guards in NBA history: "I don't have him ranked above Russell Westbrook.' Chris Paul recently joined the L.A. Clippers (Image via Instagram / @cp3) He further stated that Russell Westbrook's triple-double record-breaking games and MVP run stand out. The Milwaukee Bucks came back with four straight victories after CP3 led the Phoenix Suns to within two games of the 2021 NBA championship. After winning Game 1, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder made it to the Finals in 2012 as well. However, it is not certain what additional accomplishments Kendrick Perkins wants for Chris Paul aside from a championship or a regular-season MVP. Meanwhile, the new L.A. Clippers' player will always be regarded as one of the NBA's most knowledgeable and significant point guards, regardless of this comment. Also read: Chris Paul returns to Los Angeles Clippers on 1-year, $3.6M deal in what may be his farewell NBA season Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NBA Legend Blows Minds by Sharing Video of Him Shooting Hoops in the Most Unusual Location
NBA Legend Blows Minds by Sharing Video of Him Shooting Hoops in the Most Unusual Location originally appeared on Parade. is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, so it's not too surprising to see him pull off a baller move, but even longtime fans may be a bit stunned by the video the Magic Man posted on his official Instagram account on Monday, July 28. The clip, soundtracked by 's 1984 hit 'Basketball,' begins with a bird's eye view of a basketball court, but it's not just any court, it's on a yacht on a port in Barcelona, Spain, and Magic, dressed in all white, is seen sinking shot after shot. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 'It was nice to be back in Barcelona, Spain where I won my gold medal with the Dream Team! I'm back shooting hoops, not in an arena this time, but on a yacht! 😁,' Magic captioned the post. Fans and some of Magic's fellow pro ballers, both still active and retired like Johnson, and other celebrities, were quick to comment. Returning Los Angeles Clippers star posted, '🔥🔥🔥.' 'The greatest Point Guard of ALL TIME!!!!🔥🔥,' wrote hip-hop producer . 'The Magic Man!,' posted former NBA star 'Big Dawg!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🐐,' wrote . 'Living his LIFE!!❤️,' posted music star . 'The Ultimate BALLER,' added retired former NBA star . As Johnson mentioned in his post, he was part of the U.S. Men's Basketball squad known as the 'Dream Team' that took the gold medal in 1992 in the summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. It was the first U.S. Olympic team to include active NBA players with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and others joining Magic on the roster. The 'Dream Team' was so dominant that it outscored its opponents by an average of 44 points per game on its way to taking the gold metal against Croatia. NBA Legend Blows Minds by Sharing Video of Him Shooting Hoops in the Most Unusual Location first appeared on Parade on Jul 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chris Paul explains his 'no-brainer' decision to get back with Los Angeles Clippers
Image via Imagn Images Chris Paul is back with the Los Angeles Clippers. He last played for the team from 2011 to 2017. Now, with the upcoming season, Paul is excited to share the arena with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. In his recent interview on Monday, the athlete talked about it. Paul believed that it was an easy decision for him to join the Clippers. He specifically used the term 'no-brainer.' Chris Paul signs with Los Angeles Clippers in an off-the-bench role Chris Paul is finally back where he wanted to be. He signed on last week with the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul's role as per the agreement is an off-the-bench one. Paul looks forward to an NBA Championship alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. In his introductory press conference, Paul was asked about the difficulty in making the decision. The difficulty was indicated by the kind of role he had signed up for. Chris Paul's FULL Los Angeles Clippers Introductory Press Conference Paul had a solid reply, 'It was a no-brainer. I actually did an interview before this, and I was talking about how when you're in this lifestyle or world for a while, it's a lot of people who would try to tell your story for you.' He further continued, 'I was actually on vacation with my family, and you see all the stories, people saying, 'He'll only go here if he's starting or if he's doing this.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo I think for me, the gratitude that I have for being able to play as long as I've had, I think the easiest decision in this is sitting right up here, my family. It's getting a chance to be around them and be around a lot more and get a chance to compete and play for a championship." More than playing with the team, Paul is excited to be around his family. For the longest time, the athlete has been trying to find ways to spend more time with his family. And now with the agreement, the plan has panned out. How is the relationship between Chris Paul and James Harden? Chris Paul and James Harden had a decent couple of seasons together during their time with the Houston Rockets. However, the duo split up due to disagreements as teammates. A video even went viral where Harden slapped away the fist of Paul when the latter extended it for a fist bump. Immediately after, the duo was seen involved in an argument. It might have been related to the gameplay of that match. Addressing the video and analyzing the prospects of the partnership between the duo, Paul stated, 'We talked about the history of being in Houston, and it's funny because that clip that goes around, there was a lot of stuff funnier than that, but that was just our relationship.' Paul believed that their relationship was the driving factor behind the team performing well. He further added, 'And James is one of those guys who loves to be in the gym all day long. So it's wild that you get this opportunity again after those two years and the success that we had. We definitely know we had unfinished business, so we get a chance to see what's going on here." FAQs How old is Chris Paul? Chris Paul is 40 years old How old is James Harden? James Harden is 35 years old Is Chris Paul a vegan? Yes, Chris Paul has been a vegan since 2019 Also Read: NBA Trade News: Los Angeles Lakers Add Villanova's 6-foot-8 All-Time Scorer to Support Luka-LeBron Power Duo and Improve Title Odds Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
