The pathway many follow to become the most notable player for a franchise is one of loyalty, dominance, and championships. Giannis Antetokounmpo has accomplished all three for the Milwaukee Bucks, and so has the Dallas Mavericks’ icon, Dirk Nowitzki.
However, for a team like the LA Clippers, which has yet to win a championship, the criterion is a bit different. The organization and fans simply need someone who will try their best and put on a show for the league to take notice that something special could be brewing on the other side of Los Angeles.
Blake Griffin was that someone, but who made the process easier for him was Chris Paul, a Hall of Fame point guard still playing, following a draft night that was 21 seasons ago.
This is an awfully large amount of time spent on numerous teams, including six seasons with the Clippers, all without a ring. Few players in league history have had such dominance without a title, and fans of the legendary guard are worried that Paul will join the list once he retires.
However, Paul returned to the Clippers this summer, and his teammates, including James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and Bradley Beal, appear to be a more formidable powerhouse than the Phoenix Suns team that reached the NBA Finals in 2021.
If the team’s chemistry flows, Paul could see the storybook ending he has dreamed of, and it would do more for his legacy as a player for the franchise.
A championship next season would be Chris Paul’s first, and it would make him the greatest Clipper in history
For Chris Paul, a championship in the final season he plays in the NBA would mean everything, primarily because the reason he joined the LA Clippers was his family. Thus, there would be plenty of emotion that would be seen from Paul’s end the moment he lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy for the fans.
Furthermore, Paul’s career will end in good standing, championship or not. He has nearly every other accomplishment imaginable, except an MVP, and individually knows that his hard work, which spanned 21 seasons, made him an distinct point guard.
Conversely, Paul winning a championship in his reunion season with LA would satisfy his dreams in multiple ways, particularly due to the high level of consideration he would receive from the fans as the best the franchise has ever had.
This is the ultimate ending, and it will require Paul to work relentlessly, but the consistent dedication will pay off when the NBA Finals’ buzzer sounds, and the Clippers discover they have finally won it all.