Chris Paul's return to Los Angeles is "all about competing for championships"

LOS ANGELES -- In a move that has sent ripples of excitement through "Clipper Nation," the Los Angeles Clippers have officially announced the signing of veteran point guard Chris Paul to a one-year, $3.6 million contract. The reunion marks Paul's return to the franchise where he spent six impactful seasons (2011-2017) and spearheaded the "Lob City" era.

Paul, who will be entering his 21st NBA season, spent the 2024-2025 campaign with the San Antonio Spurs, where he averaged a career-low 8.8 points, alongside 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game across a remarkable 82 appearances at 39 years of age. Despite the modest scoring, his playmaking acumen and leadership remain highly valued.

While Paul is in the final stage of his career, President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank mentioned that the Clippers wanted to get the roster as good as it could be, "regardless of age." He continued to say that "Brook [Lopez] was a starter for 80 games and CP [Chris Paul] was a starter for 82 games," noting that even though they are older, they were able to play in a reasonable number of games during the season. 

This offseason has seen the Clippers make significant moves, notably re-signing James Harden, acquiring Bradley Beal via a buyout, trading for John Collins, and signing Brook Lopez. With this veteran-laden roster, Paul's role is expected to be that of a crucial reserve point guard, providing stability, floor generalship, and a much-needed backup to Harden. 

Lawrence Frank spoke to the media on Tuesday to discuss Paul's return to Los Angeles, stating that while the Clippers would "love for all of our guys to be healthy all 82," that bringing in Paul was critical considering the number of games James Harden and Ivica Zubac played last year. 

He continued to say that Bradley Beal "volunteered giving Chris his number," which paves the way for Paul to return to wearing number three. 

The combination of Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and the newly assembled offensive talent is expected to be interesting, as Paul will be able to run the offense in the second unit and find open shooters, as well as run a pick-and-pop with Brook Lopez. 

This signing underscores the Clippers' commitment to leveraging experienced players, and as Frank mentioned: "It's all about competing for championships."