NEED TO KNOW
The LA Clippers parted ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul in the middle of his retirement seasonPaul, 40, posted a cryptic message saying he was being “sent home” on Instagram amid the team’s five-game road tripClippers general manager Lawrence Frank said “no one is blaming Chris for our underperformance,” but confirmed Paul “will no longer be with the team”
The Los Angeles Clippers cut Chris Paul in a dramatic fashion during the point guard’s final season in the NBA.
As the Clippers navigate an abysmal 5-16 start to the 2025-26 season, which was also set to be 40-year-old Paul’s retirement tour with the team after he decided to play a final year, Paul shared a cryptic post on Instagram in the middle of the team’s five-game road trip.
“Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” Paul wrote in the post, adding a peace sign emoji.
Chris Paul via Instagram.
Chris Paul/Instagram
On Dec. 3, Clippers general manager Lawrence Frank confirmed that the team has abruptly parted ways with Paul.
“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team. We will work with him on the next step of his career,” Frank told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
Chris Paul on Nov. 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty
Frank said Paul is a “legendary Clipper who has had a historic career” before adding, “I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance.”
The general manager said he accepts responsibility “for the record we have right now,” which currently has them in the second-to-last spot in conference standings.
“There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled,” Frank said, adding, “We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
Before returning to the Clippers this season after a one-year stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Paul had previously played six seasons with the franchise, from 2011-2017.
After Paul’s dismissal was confirmed, former Clippers star Lou Williams said on the Run It Back podcast that he heard from people in the organization that the point guard was cut because there were “a few scenarios” of Paul “holding people accountable” for the team’s losses, including players, coaches and staff members.
Williams said he heard that Paul apologized to the team for being so critical, telling them he just wanted the Clippers to “be a good team” in recent days. Williams said there was “another scenario” when Paul was “critical of the front office” adding, “I think that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
PEOPLE has contacted the Clippers for comment but did not immediately hear back.