Veteran point guard Chris Paul is prepared for a reduced role as he begins his second stint with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to reporting from Dallas Hoops Journal.
Paul, 39, agreed to a one-year deal with the Clippers this offseason, prioritizing proximity to his family and joining a contender for what is expected to be his final NBA season. Despite his Hall of Fame résumé, the Clippers reportedly made it clear his playing time would not be guaranteed.
Brian Windhorst said, “From what I understand, he’s not gonna have guaranteed playing time. There are going to be nights where James Harden and their backup Kris Dunn get the minutes at point guard and Chris Paul might not play at all, which is something you’ve never seen from him before. He has understood that.”
This signals a significant change for the 12-time All-Star, who has started in all 1,314 of his 1,354 career games. Even so, Paul reportedly accepted the situation, understanding that joining a competitive team near his family outweighed a guaranteed role.
Paul spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists while providing leadership on a rebuilding squad.
His return to the Clippers comes seven years after his first stint in Los Angeles, where he headlined the “Lob City” era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan from 2011 to 2017. That period saw the Clippers rise to perennial playoff contention before Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets.
The Clippers have since constructed a roster around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, recently adding veterans Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and John Collins this offseason. These moves reflect a win-now strategy in which Paul is expected to play more of a supporting role than in previous seasons.
