Chris Paul Returning to LA Clippers for twenty first and Possible Closing NBA Season

Chris Paul is rejoining the LA Clippers for what’s anticipated to be the purpose guard’s twenty first and closing NBA season.

The staff confirmed Monday afternoon that Paul had signed. He led the Clippers to the playoffs in every of his six seasons in Los Angeles.

“Chris is among the most impactful gamers ever to put on a Clippers uniform, and it’s acceptable that he returns to the staff for this chapter of his profession,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, mentioned in a press release.

Paul, a 12-time All-Star, was a free agent after enjoying all 82 video games for the San Antonio Spurs final season, changing into the primary NBA participant to take action in his twentieth season or later. He averaged 8.8 factors and seven.4 assists whereas taking pictures 43% from the ground.

Paul had said that he needed to play the upcoming season near his household, who lives in Los Angeles.

He joins a veteran roster that features new additions guard Bradley Beal, ahead John Collins and middle Brook Lopez, in addition to Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Bogdan Bogdanović.

“Chris will assist fortify our backcourt along with his distinctive ballhandling, playmaking and taking pictures,” Frank mentioned Monday.

Paul performed six seasons for the Clippers throughout their “Lob Metropolis” period with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. He made 5 All-Star groups from 2012 to 2017 and his 4,023 assists are nonetheless probably the most in franchise historical past. He averaged 18.8 factors, 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and a pair of.2 steals in 409 video games.

Paul left the Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017 as a result of he felt it was time for a change, and he needed to compete for a championship with Harden. Paul spent two seasons in Houston earlier than going to Oklahoma Metropolis for one season. He then spent three years with Phoenix and one with Golden State earlier than becoming a member of the Spurs final season, who completed thirteenth within the Western Convention at 34-48.

The Clippers completed fifth at 50-32 and misplaced to Denver in seven video games within the first spherical.

Frank had mentioned Saturday that the staff was “strongly contemplating” signing Paul to affix a crowded guard rotation of Harden, Beal, Bogdanovic and Kris Dunn.

Paul will come off the bench. “He’s becoming a member of us as a reserve level guard and is worked up to fill no matter function (coach) Tyronn Lue asks him to play,” Frank mentioned. “He needs to be a part of the group and we’re lucky to have him again.”

The Clippers need to protect Harden, who performed practically 2,800 minutes final season at age 35 in his sixteenth NBA season. They view Paul as insurance coverage in opposition to accidents that sometimes influence a roster throughout an 82-game season, plus the playoffs.

“Function consciousness, particularly on this subsequent roster spot, shall be important,” Frank mentioned.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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