The Los Angeles Clippers surprised the NBA by releasing future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul early Wednesday morning, less than two weeks after Paul confirmed he was playing his final season.
It quickly became clear that the decision was not mutual. Paul wrote on Instagram, "Just found out I'm being sent home," while Paul's brother wrote, "These ppl are crazy!!!"
Stunning development with the Clippers sending franchise legend Chris Paul home tonight. Obviously he’s been in and out of Tyronn Lue’s rotation this year. But sending any player home, let alone a player of Paul’s stature in the league and with the franchise, is quite a move. pic.twitter.com/qVncMQq3st
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 3, 2025
The Clippers confirmed the news shortly after Paul first took to social media.
Here's what you need to know about Paul's surprise release from the Clippers.
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Why was Chris Paul released?
The Clippers chose to part ways with Paul after a dismal 5-16 start, but they didn't offer much of an explanation for the move, releasing the following statement:
"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. 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," Clippers president Lawrence Frank told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk on Wednesday morning.
Frank hinted that the Clippers' struggles prompted a move, but he also said explicitly that the team isn't blaming Paul for the team's ugly 5-16 record.
Paul has played sparingly this season, averaging only 14.3 minutes per game and shooting just 32.1 percent from the field. The 12-time All-Star said over the summer that he planned to play only one more season and strongly indicated he would like to do so in Los Angeles, describing the difficulty of playing away from his family. Paul previously spent six seasons with the Clippers from 2011-17.
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Chris Paul contract
Paul signed a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum of $3.6 million in July. That salary is fully guaranteed, so the Clippers will still have to pay out the remaining money on the deal unless Paul signs elsewhere and offsets the salary.
Chris Paul stats
2025-26 stats
Games PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3-pt%
16 2.9 1.8 3.3 0.7 32.1% 33.3%
Paul averaged less than 15 minutes per game over 16 contests but struggled mightily on the offensive end in that limited action, averaging 2.9 points per game on 32.1 percent from the field, including just 30.8 percent from inside the 3-point line after posting a 51.4 percent mark from the same range last season.
Career stats
Season Team Games PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3pt%
2005-06 Hornets 78 16.1 5.1 7.8 2.2 43.0% 28.2%
2006-07 Hornets 64 17.3 4.4 8.9 1.8 43.7% 35.0%
2007-08 Hornets 80 21.1 4.0 11.6 2.7 48.8% 36.9%
2008-09 Hornets 78 22.8 5.5 11.0 2.8 50.3% 36.4%
2009-10 Hornets 45 18.7 4.2 10.7 2.1 49.3% 40.9%
2010-11 Hornets 80 15.9 4.1 9.8 2.4 46.3% 38.8%
2011-12 Clippers 60 19.8 3.6 9.1 2.5 47.8% 37.1%
2012-13 Clippers 70 16.9 3.7 9.7 2.4 48.1% 32.8%
2013-14 Clippers 62 19.1 4.3 10.7 2.5 46.7% 36.8%
2014-15 Clippers 82 19.1 4.6 10.2 1.9 48.5% 39.8%
2015-16 Clippers 74 19.5 4.2 10.0 2.1 46.2% 37.1%
2016-17 Clippers 61 18.1 5.0 9.2 2.0 47.6% 41.1%
2017-18 Rockets 58 18.6 5.4 7.9 1.7 46.0% 38.0%
2018-19 Rockets 58 15.6 4.6 8.2 2.0 41.9% 35.8%
2019-20 Thunder 70 17.6 5.0 6.7 1.6 48.9% 36.5%
2020-21 Suns 70 16.4 4.5 8.9 1.4 49.9% 39.5%
2021-22 Suns 65 14.7 4.4 10.8 1.9 49.3% 31.7%
2022-23 Suns 59 13.9 4.3 8.9 1.5 44.0% 37.5%
2023-24 Warriors 58 9.2 3.9 6.8 1.2 44.1% 37.1%
2024-25 Spurs 82 8.8 3.6 7.4 1.3 42.7% 37.7%
2025-26 Clippers 16 2.9 1.8 3.3 0.7 32.1 33.3
Career 1,364 16.9 4.4 9.2 2.0 46.9% 37.0%
Paul ranks second in NBA history in both assists and steals; he led the NBA in assists per game five times and steals per game six times in his 21 seasons.
How old is Chris Paul?
Paul is 40 years old; he is set to turn 41 in May, less than a month after the end of the regular season. Paul was the second-oldest active NBA player before his release, behind only LeBron James.
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Chris Paul career timeline
2005-11: New Orleans Hornets
2011-17: Los Angeles Clippers
2017-19: Houston Rockets
2019-20: Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-23: Phoenix Suns
2023-24: Golden State Warriors
2024-25: San Antonio Spurs
2025-26: Los Angeles Clippers
Paul has spent time with seven different teams in his 21 NBA seasons, starting with the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) before being traded to the Clippers after a deal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers was blocked by the NBA out of the 2011 lockout.
Paul starred alongside James Harden for two seasons in Houston, nearly reaching the NBA Finals, and he did reach the Finals in Phoenix after a one-year stop in Oklahoma City next to a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After stops with the Warriors and Spurs, Paul decided to play his final season closer to home and rejoin the Clippers for a second stint.