As Chris Paul has cemented his 20-year professional career thus far, with his 21st approaching on the LA Clippers, in the Western Conference, he has had multiple stints in various unique situations that were eventually drawn to a close.
Younger teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs needed Paul's experience to develop superstars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, creating a winning environment that he instilled after one season.
For strictly production as a point guard, the Houston Rockets traded Lou Williams, a Clippers icon, in a package with different talents for Paul, who was an All-Star for five consecutive seasons out of his six in Staples Center.
The Rockets won 65 games directly after their trade for Paul, a franchise-high, making the transaction appear to be one of the best in team history. He also produced efficiently alongside the league's greatest scorer, James Harden, with season averages of 18.6 points and 7.9 assists in 58 games in 2017-18.
The Rockets made it to the Western Conference Finals but faced the Golden State Warriors, a generationally talented rotation featuring Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, against whom they lost, managing only two wins.
The next season was identical, as they lost to the same team, led by the same superstars, in the second round. The Rockets experienced a decline in team success and subsequently traded the veteran guard to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook.
Harden and Paul navigated their routes back to each other, as they will be teammates for the Clippers next season. In the recent introduction ceremony for LA's greatest point guard, he left the fan base excited with what was said.
Chris Paul hints at prosperity next to LA Clippers' superstar, James Harden
Chris Paul had a smile from ear to ear, as well as some tears from emotional joy, throughout his recent ceremony in front of hundreds of fans for the LA Clippers. He spoke on several topics, many of which connected to how he feels to be back, but James Harden's name was briefly mentioned, as they used to be a complementary duo for the Houston Rockets.
Paul described next season with Harden as "unfinished business," given that the conclusion of their time as teammates for the Rockets did not present a championship. This was an exceptional way to electrify the fans, as the 12-time All-Star is rightfully confident that year 21 could be 'the one' for himself and Clipper Nation.