Chris Paul has made his big return to the Los Angeles Clippers after being away from the team for eight years. Now that’s he back, the veteran guard revealed the goal he wants to achieve in the twilight of his career.
Paul gifted the Clippers their best stretch of winning in the modern era, representing them from 2012 to 2017. Throughout six seasons, he averaged 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.
He earned five NBA All-Star selections and landed on five All-NBA teams in his six seasons with the Clippers. He helped them reach the West Semifinals three times. The closest he got them to the conference finals was in 2015 when they lost to the Houston Rockets in seven games.
Paul was happy to come back to the squad after stints with five teams. He represented the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs in that span. While the reunion is touching for him, there is one goal that remains huge on his mind even after turning 40 years old.
“That’s the goal,” Paul said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “At the same time, I do understand that not everyone gets a chance to play this long. I’ll be taking every moment in this season and making sure that I’m doing whatever I can to help our team win.”
Chris Paul says winning an NBA title with the Clippers is what he’s chasing 👀🏆
@malika_andrewsWhat’s Next For Chris Paul, Clippers
GettyChris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket on Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers during a 113-104 Clippers win at Intuit Dome on November 04, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Chris Paul understands that his situation is a rarity for players who are still in the NBA at age 40. With the Clippers, however, he can still have the opportunity to have a solid role on a playoff roster.
This time will be different for Paul during his second stint with the Los Angeles franchise. He will likely come off the bench as a sixth man while Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Bradley Beal take care of ball handling duties in the starting unit.
Even at his advanced age, Paul can still get the job done as a scorer and playmaker. Last season with the Spurs, he averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
It’s impressive for Paul to play all 82 games, accomplishing a rare feat that few players achieved in a long NBA career. His longevity is a testament to how teams value him highly as one of the best guards in the league’s history.
Los Angeles has the oldest squad in the league after adding Paul, Beal, Brook Lopez, and John Collins this offseason. They boast plenty of depth in the backcourt and frontcourt, presenting themselves as a contender this upcoming season.
Since 2020, the Clippers have had a presence in the playoffs. They reached the Conference Finals in 2021 but have since suffered first-round exits and missed the postseason in 2022. The 2025-26 season looks to be huge for them as it could be the last run for Leonard and Harden as the star duo, and for Paul in the twilight of his career.
Chris Paul Reveals Goal He Wants to Achieve After Clippers Return