Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul played on the Clippers together from 2013 to 2017, and they each were vital to the team making the playoffs in all four seasons during that span.
Redick averaged 15.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting (44 percent 3-point) across 28.9 minutes per game as the shooting guard, while Paul averaged 19 points on 47.3 percent shooting (38.8 percent 3-point) and 10 assists over 33.6 minutes as the point guard. Paul led the NBA with 10.7 average assists, along with 2.5 steals, in 2013-14 and the following season with 10.2.
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Redick reacted to Paul’s retirement announcement on Saturday, via LoJo Media.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3)Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I hope he doesn’t win an NBA championship because that would mean the Clippers win the championship and we don’t,” he said. “But to me, he’s the ultimate winner.”
“There’s a guy who works in the NBA who I’ve known for almost 20 years now, and we talk about this all the time,” he continued. “There are guys who’ve won championships that I wouldn’t say are winning players, and there are guys who have never won a championship that to me are ultimate winner. That’s who Chris Paul is, he’s the ultimate winner.”
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Chris Paul One of Greatest Ringless Players
Paul announced on Saturday morning that this season will be his last, via social media. The fact that the 12-time All-Star has never won a championship is one of the unluckiest stories in league history.
Paul is a five-time NBA assists leader, a six-time steals leader, and a nine-time All-Defensive honoree. The 40-year-old is only behind Hall of Famer John Stockton on the all-time assists and steals rankings.
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Paul reached the NBA Finals in 2021 as a member of the Phoenix Suns, but they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. The 11-time All-NBA selection also made the Western Conference Semifinals three times and the conference finals with the Houston Rockets in 2018, finishing one win away from the Finals in the latter series.
If the Clippers don’t win the title this season, both Stockton and Paul will be ringless despite being two of the greatest point guards ever. It goes to Redick’s point about certain players contributing to winning, but not being lucky enough to get what they deserve.
Paul is averaging 2.5 points on 27.3 percent shooting (27.3 percent 3-point) with 3.3 assists over 13.7 minutes for Los Angeles this season.
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Related: LeBron James Sends Message to Chris Paul After Retirement News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.