Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul has been “sent home” from the team amid its five-game road trip and “will no longer be with the team,” the Clippers announced.
Paul, a 12-time All-Star who is in his 21st NBA season, shared the news in an Instagram post early Wednesday morning.
“Just found out I’m being sent home,” Paul wrote in an Instagram story, accompanied by a peace sign emoji.
The Clippers in a statement confirmed Paul’s departure from the team. He was in his first season back with the Clippers after playing six seasons for LA from 2011-17, when he earned six consecutive All-Star appearances.
“We are parting ways with Chris Paul and he will no longer be with the team,” the Clippers said, according to ESPN NBA reporter Ohm Youngmisuk. “We will work with him on the next step of his career.
“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
The Clippers are 5-16 this season and sit in 14th place among 15 teams in the Western Conference.
Paul’s departure from the Clippers comes just over a week after he seemingly confirmed that this season would be his final playing in the NBA.
“Back in NC!!! What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!,” Paul wrote in a post to X on Nov. 22. His retirement was also reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Paul first hinted in July that he would retire from the NBA after this season.
“At the most a year,” Paul, 40, told Jemele Hill when asked how much longer he plans to play in the NBA. “I just finished my 20th NBA season, which is a blessing in itself.”
In 21 NBA seasons, Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2 steals in 33.5 minutes per game.
He played his first six seasons for the New Orleans Hornets and his next six seasons with the Clippers. He also played for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before re-joining the Clippers in July.