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.

In the same interview where Chris Paul revealed this will be his last NBA season, he reiterated staying close to LA is a priority.

“My wife and my kids are in LA… I love to play basketball, but I love my kids and my family more. That is gonna weigh a huge part on my decision on… pic.twitter.com/UaSOzPNtRc

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) July 6, 2025

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. 

Clippers’ roster has MAJOR depth 🔥

G: James Harden, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn
F: Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum
C: Ivica Zubac, Brook Lopez

They will finish as a __ seed in the West? 👀 pic.twitter.com/Qx8YsnU6PX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2025

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. 

Like it or not, the Clippers’ BENCH looks like trouble for the rest of the NBA.

🪄 Chris Paul
🎯 Bogdan Bogdanovic
🔒 Nicolas Batum
🛫 Derrick Jones Jr.
💪 Brook Lopez pic.twitter.com/A2hJRamp0O

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 21, 2025

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.”