Clippers release franchise legend Chris Paul in shocking early-season move

In one of the most bizarre moves in the league ever, the Los Angeles Clippers have announced they will be ‘sending home’ former star guard and now veteran Chris Paul.

In a news first broken by NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Clippers are reportedly releasing the 38-year-old point guard, whose prime years were spent and played with in the city of angels.

The Clippers front office led by president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank issued a statement shortly after the surprising move, saying, the franchise is parting ways with Paul and is willing to “work with him on the next step of his career.” The statement praised Paul’s impact, calling him “a legendary Clipper,” and emphasized that the decision was not a result of assigning blame for the team’s poor start – rather, the front office accepted responsibility for the overall underperformance.

The Clippers entered this season with high hopes after re-signing Paul to a one-year, US$3.6 million deal, returning to the franchise where he starred from 2011–2017. Paul previously announced he’s retiring at the end of the season, marking this season as his last in the league.

As of the release, LA sits at a 5–16 record, a disappointing record that ranks among the worst in the Western Conference – and far off the expectations set for a veteran-heavy club. Paul’s own bench production this season was modest – but stats show him averaging career-low numbers in limited minutes backing up starting guard James Harden.

Sources say the decision came in the middle of a road trip, with Paul learning about his release late in the night before a scheduled game. In a now-viral social media post, Paul wrote simply, “Just found out I’m being sent home,” accompanied by a peace emoji. 

ANALYSIS: For Paul – a 12-time All-Star, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and a central figure in the Clippers’ “Lob City” era – the release ends a reunion that many hoped would serve as a farewell tour. 

Despite sitting on the fringes of the rotation this season, Paul remains one of the NBA’s all-time leaders in assists and steals, and his resume includes remarkable longevity and consistency.

From the Clippers’ perspective, the move appears driven by a desire to shake up a struggling roster and reset direction – a sign the front office believes the veteran-heavy mix no longer fits their timeline or strategy. Frank’s statement explicitly noted the franchise’s underperformance, not the player, as the impetus. This likely signals the Clippers signing a younger player to help the team, especially in the athleticism department. The Clippers might also shake it up and make some additional moves, including possibly trading away some players on the roster to try and get better.

Paul’s next steps – whether another team picks him up, he searches for a trade, or he heads toward retirement – are uncertain. Given his age (40) and status, this could well mark the end of his storied NBA tenure.

The Clippers must now adjust their guard rotation and re-evaluate their direction, possibly leaning more on younger players or exploring trades as they navigate a disappointing start.

The optics and fan reaction are likely to be heated – releasing a beloved franchise icon mid-season is rare and has generated significant criticism among fans and analysts.

This turn of events might go down as one of the most bizarre and talked-about roster shifts of the season. What looked like a leadership move – a returned legend finishing his career in L.A. – ended instead with a stark severance.