Chris Paul has been let go by the Clippers.
The 40-year-old veteran was released as he was expected to wrap up his NBA career this season. Paul openly expressed how painful and surprising this situation was for him.
On the “Build or Break” podcast, he shared, “What’s interesting about that whole situation is, it’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured.”
Paul reflected on his journey, mentioning, “I’ve been through a lot of wild stuff in my career. Having older kids and a wife who’s very tuned in, they are aware of everything happening with the team and organization. I was obviously upset, but my family, my people, everybody…”
He emphasized that given their long-term commitment to the team, witnessing how things were managed was particularly disheartening. “It just shows that no matter what you do or how hard you work, it feels like nobody truly cares.”
Paul had enjoyed a significant part of his career with the Clippers, making five All-Star appearances during his time there. Still, that history didn’t seem to matter when it came to the team’s decision regarding the 2025-26 season.
In December, during an Atlanta road trip, he learned in the middle of the night that he was being released. The team’s president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, explained that the decision stemmed from the team’s poor performance, highlighted by a disappointing 5-16 start.
However, it was also reported that there were internal disagreements about Paul’s leadership style, particularly his dynamic with head coach Tyronn Lue. Despite Paul’s attempts to foster team bonding through events like a Halloween party and a Rams game outing, interest was minimal.
