In three preseason games, LA Clippers legend Chris Paul played 17+ each night and even eclipsed 20 in the eight-point loss versus the Denver Nuggets. On the contrary, through eight regular-season games, he is averaging 12.9. Thus, the decrease is not because Tyronn Lue does not trust him in matters that can make a difference in standings, but because he is a liability on both sides of the ball.
Fans of the Clippers genuinely love Paul for who he was and who he is. He is a well-respected figure on every street in LA and is genuinely one of the smartest players the game has ever seen, on and off the court.
Yet, this season, the 12-time All-Star has proven nothing. In fact, he is playing like any 40-year-old would on offense: slow, out of rhythm, and inefficient.
Chris Paul’s performances have made it clear that retirement is near
Usually, before players retire, they try to empty their tanks of all their greatness to win a championship or do what is best for a franchise. Chris Paul did not have the San Antonio Spurs in a position to win the NBA Finals last season. Still, he guided the young and rising duo of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
The Spurs surely wanted Dylan Harper to see the difference in having Paul as a teammate as a rookie, similarly to Castle. Yet, the veteran guard wanted to be in the city he could call home, and unfortunately for San Antonio, it was not them.
However, the Spurs were lucky to be the team that received everything Paul had left. He would score, pass, including a number of feeds to Wembanyama, and defend, proving that his age did not define his serviceability.
In LA as a Clipper, Paul has simply given Tyronn Lue a bunch of problems he cannot fix. He is currently averaging 2.3 points and 3.6 assists, shooting 24.0% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc.
Lue can encourage Paul, motivate him, and have him share the court with others who could make him look better, but this is all the championship head coach can do.
That said, Paul has indicated, through his game log and the Clippers’ losing record, that retirement could be coming soon. While fans would celebrate if his mid-range scoring and flashy playmaking returned, the crystal-clear realization is that producing at 40 is formidable.