In a move that feels like a homecoming, Chris Paul has signed a one-year, minimum-salary deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The 40-year-old point guard, widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history, is reuniting with the franchise where he played some of his best basketball from 2011 to 2017. This could mark the final chapter of his illustrious career.
Paul’s return to the Clippers is driven by both personal and professional motivations. Having spent the last six seasons away from his family, who reside in Los Angeles, Paul emphasized the importance of being close to his 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. “I talked to my family about it… I wanna be dad,” Paul said on The Pat McAfee Show in June. The Clippers, alongside the Lakers, were natural fits, but the basketball fit with the Clippers proved stronger, as they needed a reliable backup point guard to support James Harden.
During his initial stint with the Clippers, Paul transformed the franchise, leading the “Lob City” era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. He earned five All-NBA selections, six All-Defensive team nods, and five All-Star appearances, cementing his legacy as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists. His leadership helped the Clippers make the playoffs in each of his six seasons, a stark contrast to their historically inconsistent past.
Coming off a 2024-25 season with the San Antonio Spurs, where he started all 82 games at age 39, Paul averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 37.7% from three. Though no longer the All-Star he once was, his playmaking and leadership remain valuable. The Clippers, who won 50 games last season despite losing in the first round, see Paul as a key piece to bolster their backcourt depth behind Harden and new addition Bradley Beal.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank praised Paul, calling him “a great player” and “a great Clipper,” signaling the team’s excitement for his return. With a roster featuring veterans like Harden, Beal, Kawhi Leonard, and Brook Lopez, the Clippers are banking on experience to compete in the Western Conference, despite being underdogs with +1400 odds to win the West. Paul’s reunion with Harden, with whom he had a rocky history in Houston, suggests both are ready to move past old tensions in pursuit of a championship.
For Paul, returning to the Clippers is a full-circle moment. As he likely enters his final NBA season, the chance to play near his family and contribute to a competitive team offers a fitting end to a Hall of Fame career.
