NEW YORK: Chris Paul was stunned to be released by the Los Angeles Clippers in the wee hours of the morning in Atlanta last Wednesday.
But he’s become more surprised that he’s experiencing calmness about the situation as he waits to see if he will continue his 21-season NBA career.
“I’m actually at peace with everything,” Paul told PEOPLE.com on Tuesday. “More than anything, I’m excited about being around and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next.”
The 12-time All-Star was sent packing in a humbling manner as apparent difference of opinions between himself and management simmered. There were reports that Paul’s abrasive style of communicating alienated some players and that Paul and coach Tyronn Lue were not on speaking terms.
Lue responded to the latter allegation on Tuesday, saying, “That ain’t true. We were talking. How’s he gonna play if I’m not talking to him? There was a stretch where he wasn’t going to play and be out of the rotation, it was tough for him because he’s a competitor. But after that, it wasn’t really much.”
The surprise move to cut Paul came after the 40-year-old veteran returned to the Clippers — he starred for the franchise from 2011-17 — as a sendoff to his career. He has announced his retirement after the season.
Paul released the initial news of his own departure — “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” he wrote on Instagram — and said he doesn’t lament that decision.
“I don’t regret anything,” Paul says. “I was in Atlanta with a whole bunch of family. It was my last time gonna be playing there. That’s life. The whole thing took on a life of its own, you know? But I’m excited to be back here with my family.”
Paul sees the chance to be more involved with his family as a blessing.
“Stuff’s been a little crazy in the past few days — to say the least,” Paul said. “But honestly, I’m home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My nephew had a basketball game. My son has a game coming up on the 12th.
“I have never seen my son play a game in person. Not a middle school game, not a high school game. So I’m excited about seeing him play.”
This season, Paul averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games off the bench.
Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists with 12,552 and second in steals with 2,728, trailing only Hall of Famer John Stockton in both categories.
Paul, then with New Orleans, was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, five-time NBA assists champion and six-time steals champion. A member of seven first-team all-defensive teams, he also was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game. Paul was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021 and won Olympic gold medals with the United States in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
He played with New Orleans for six seasons, then was traded to the Clippers in 2011. He later played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and San Antonio Spurs (2024-25).
Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 1,370 (1,314 starts). He has not won an NBA title, getting to the NBA Finals only once, when his Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
