The Los Angeles Clippers made a sentimentally sound move in free agency by signing franchise legend Chris Paul. With Paul officially introduced, the 40-year-old veteran shared how he manifested the move. He said:
“This is kind of wild, kind of crazy. Still kind of speechless. I’ll probably have a lot of words later with my family. It’s sort of just taking in the whole experience here right now. This is one of those things I kind of manifested for a long time. Always tried to speak it into existence, but you just never know if it’s really going to happen.”
“I love to hoop. I love to play this game. But I love my family more than any of it. So I have so much gratitude for Steve Ballmer, for L Frank, T Lue, for everybody in the Clippers organization for bringing me in.”
While Paul expressed his gratitude upon returning to the Clippers, it was clear the fans had also been eagerly anticipating the reunion. Upon taking the stage for a meet-and-greet, the veteran guard was visibly emotional as chants of “CP3” erupted from the crowd.
CP3 gets emotional after hearing the fans chant. Welcome home Chris 🔥 (via @joeylinn_) pic.twitter.com/gCW56kzYl4
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) July 28, 2025
Given how meaningful this signing is to both the organization and the player, fans can expect great things from the upcoming season.
At 40 years old, Paul’s decision to prioritize family makes his return all the more meaningful, especially with the opportunity to stay close to home and maintain balance on and off the court.
Although the guard isn’t expected to receive significant playing time, the Clippers will benefit from having him available on their roster. With a long season ahead, maintaining depth and veteran reinforcements at key positions will be crucial to the Clippers’ success.
Paul May Continue Even After The 2025-26 Season
The upcoming season was expected to be Chris Paul’s last one, a fitting end, given his reunion with the Clippers. However, in a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Paul revealed that he may forego retirement to continue playing.
“I don’t know,” Paul stated when asked whether this season would be his last. “I think that throughout this season, at some point, guys that I know who have retired, you know. You sort of figure it out yourself. It tells you. I think, more than anything, this season, I will definitely enjoy it. I don’t take this for granted.”
At 40 years old, Paul is certainly not the player he used to be. Given the kind of situation he is in with the Clippers, it is highly unlikely that he will receive a lot of playing time, potentially even sitting out games on end. But this could be an advantage in disguise.
While the veteran’s value as a floor general is well known, his presence as a mentor and leader in the locker room could prove just as valuable. The impact of his leadership shouldn’t be underestimated.
Although a retirement tour would be appropriate, Paul’s decision to stay would also be well-received. With Paul still capable of contributing in multiple ways, the Clippers stand to benefit from his presence, both on and off the court.
