'It was a no-brainer': Paul celebrated in L.A. return

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Eight years aft past playing for the franchise and 4 years since reaching the NBA Finals for the lone clip successful his vocation by eliminating them, Chris Paul was backmost successful a LA Clippers azygous Monday.

After snapping photos successful his acquainted No. 3 jersey -- updated with a caller font and sharper colors since his archetypal six seasons successful L.A. -- and conducting a re-introductory quality conference, Paul was greeted by astir a 1000 fans who packed an lawsuit abstraction wrong Intuit Dome to herald his return.

Before helium was treated with "C-P-3!" chants from the crowd, the 40-year-old Paul revealed to reporters his information to travel back. It wasn't conscionable to play for the squad wherever helium was named a five-time All-Star and became the all-time person successful assists, but to beryllium person to his woman Jada, his lad Chris Jr. and his girl Camryn -- who stayed successful L.A. arsenic a household portion helium played successful 5 different cities since being traded to the Houston Rockets successful 2017.

"It was a no-brainer," Paul said. "If I'm truly honest, I wanted to get backmost and play present by immoderate means necessary."

Paul said his exit from the squad astir a decennary agone "wasn't the prettiest thing," but said helium kept a dialog going with proprietor Steve Ballmer done his erstwhile relation arsenic president of the players' union. Last summer, earlier Intuit opened for its archetypal NBA season, Paul reached retired to Ballmer and helium provided a idiosyncratic circuit of the caller digs.

Just implicit a week ago, Paul agreed to a one-year, $3.6 seasoned minimum woody to play his 21st play successful L.A.

While the aboriginal Hall of Fame constituent defender did not perpetrate to 2025-26 being his swan opus -- "I americium approaching [the season] with a batch of excitement, not needfully what's next," helium said connected signifier successful beforehand of the fans, "I'm conscionable trying to beryllium successful it" -- helium made it wide however comfy helium is with the radical helium is joining.

Clippers manager Tyronn Lue was his erstwhile adjunct coach. Clippers prima James Harden was his erstwhile backcourt mate successful Houston. Bradley Beal, who helium was traded for erstwhile helium was successful Phoenix and Beal was successful Washington, helium has a longtime transportation to done their clip arsenic Jordan Brand athletes.

"I'm conscionable truthful excited astir the moves that the squad has made this offseason," Paul said. "Brad coming to the team, Brook Lopez, each the young guys. I talked to James, I talked to Kawhi [Leonard], and I'm adjacent much excited astir what I deliberation we person a accidental to do."

Paul, successful his 20th season, played each 82 games for the archetypal clip successful his vocation arsenic a subordinate of the San Antonio Spurs successful 2024-25. He averaged 8.8 points connected 42.7% shooting (37.7% from 3) with 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

He apt volition not beryllium asked to play arsenic large of a relation connected a heavy Clippers squad loaded with guards successful Harden, Beal, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kris Dunn. And contempt ne'er missing a crippled his full vocation frankincense acold due to the fact that of a DNP - Coach's Decision, Paul said helium volition judge what helium is asked to bash to assistance the group.

"My relation connected this squad is evidently antithetic than it's been the past 20 years, being successful the NBA," Paul said, "but showing up each day, if I tin amusement immoderate of the guys what it looks similar each time to timepiece successful and timepiece out, I'm excited for it."

Paul ranks No. 2 successful some assists and steals connected the all-time list, down lone John Stockton successful some categories. He is No. 36 all-time successful scoring with 23,011 points.

The lone happening missing connected his résumé is simply a championship. He came adjacent successful 2021 with the Suns successful 2021, beating the Clippers successful six games successful the league finals earlier losing to the Milwaukee Bucks successful six games successful the Finals. Paul and Harden besides made it to Game 7 of the league finals unneurotic successful 2018 earlier losing to the Golden State Warriors.

When addressing the fans, Paul said helium relishes being connected a competitory squad with a chance.

"You each who person seen maine play for a while, I'm going to effort to bash amended and effort to grin a small spot much this year," Paul said. "I'm grateful. I'm going to travel retired each azygous night, immoderate that looks like, and effort to marque definite I amusement up for the team."