Chris Paul wrote his wishes for year 21 in black and white and read them out to the public. The LA Clippers did not focus on fulfilling his aspirations, as championships were rightfully more critical than a reunion to the front office. However, along the way, paths were crossed, and his final moments will be spent with Clipper Nation.
The fanbase is having a field day, as every fan who witnessed the Lob City era develop and break down is reliving the memories Paul instilled, such as his playoff game-winner against the San Antonio Spurs in 2015.
In agreement with joining the Clippers, Paul saw the concept of eliminating two birds with one stone, as he would finally spend a regular season near his family while on a team that could have the best odds of any next contender to win the NBA Finals.
At first glance, this appears to be a straightforward acceptance that Paul may have made without hesitation. Conversely, it comes without an area of desire, which may cause his ego to interfere with the team's success.
That said, the grass may be as green as ever now, but the question is, will Paul be able to sustain his current mentality of winning over being the go-to option during the regular season?
Chris Paul's mentality will make or break his last season in the NBA, through a reunion with the LA Clippers
The LA Clippers' front office has explicitly informed Chris Paul before he signed his one-year deal that, on occasion, he could be a DNP, and executive Lawrence Frank confirmed this in a recent interview.
Lawrence Frank says that there will be nights that Chris Paul will play a lot. And nights where he will not.
— Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 22, 2025
This proves that Paul is taking the ego-less approach back to the Clippers, which has always worked out. He has winning desires following 20 seasons in the Western Conference, and it shows through his decision, as the veteran guard could have been a starter with the Phoenix Suns.
On the contrary, in close game situations, will he be okay with being on the bench for James Harden, who may or may not be struggling in efficiency? The former MVP could be having a bad game, and Paul might feel like he is a better fit to win, yet that is Tyronn Lue's decision, and no argument should be orchestrated.
This could be where tension behind the scenes arises, and Paul may feel unattended to in a reserve role, leading to an unwanted problem that could define the shade of his sunset in the NBA.