NBA: Clippers Release Chris Paul After Poor Start to Season
The Los Angeles Clippers have released 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul after a terrible run of results this season. The team, who have lost 14 of their last 16 games, announced the news before their match against the Atlanta Hawks.
Paul, who is 40 years old, is seen as one of the greatest players in NBA history. This year is his 21st and final season in the league.
Clippers chief Lawrence Frank told ESPN: “We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our poor results. I accept responsibility for where we are right now. There are many reasons why we’ve struggled. We are grateful for everything Chris has done for the franchise.”
Paul confirmed the news on Instagram, writing that he had “just found out I’m being sent home”.
According to ESPN, Paul and Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue had not spoken to each other for “several weeks” before the decision.
Paul first played for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and returned on a one-year deal in July. He is second on the NBA’s all-time assists list with 12,552, behind John Stockton’s 15,806. He is also second in steals with 2,728, again behind Stockton.
Despite his long and successful career, Paul has never won an NBA title. He reached the Finals once, in 2021 with the Phoenix Suns, but they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.
