Chris Paul meets the Clippers for what the twenty first and final season of the guard must be.
The workforce confirmed on Monday afternoon that Paul had signed. He introduced the Clippers to the playoffs in every of his six seasons in Los Angeles.
“Chris is likely one of the most affect gamers who’ve ever worn a uniform from Clippers, and it’s acceptable that he returns to the workforce for this chapter of his profession,” mentioned Lawrence Frank, president of the basketball operations, in a notice.
Paul, an All-Star 12 instances, was a free agent after enjoying all 82 video games for the San Antonio Spurs final season, turning into the primary NBA participant to do it in his twentieth season or later. He scored 8.8 factors and seven.4 assists on common whereas capturing 43% from the ground.
Paul had declared that he needed to play subsequent season close to his household, who lives in Los Angeles.
It joins a veteran record that features the brand new guard of the additions Bradley Beal, the striker John Collins and the Brook Lopez middle, in addition to Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Bogdan Bogdanović.
“Chris will assist to fortify our backcourt along with his distinctive sphere supervisor, video games and filming,” Frank mentioned on Monday.
Paul performed six seasons for the Clippers throughout their “Lob City” period with Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan. He has created 5 all-stars groups from 2012 to 2017 and his 4,023 assists are nonetheless probably the most within the historical past of franchise. He scored on common 18.8 factors, 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and a couple of.2 stolen in 409 video games.
Paul left the clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017 as a result of he felt it was time to alter and needed to compete for a championship with Harden. Paul spent two seasons in Houston earlier than going to Oklahoma City for a season. He then spent three years with Phoenix and one with Golden State earlier than becoming a member of the Spurs final season, which arrived thirteenth within the Western Conference at 34-48.
The Clippers arrived fifth at 50-32 and misplaced in opposition to Denver in seven video games within the first spherical.
Frank had mentioned Saturday that the workforce was “contemplating strongly” signing Paul to affix a crowded rotation of the Harden guard, Beal, Bogdanovic and Kris Dunn.
Paul will come out of the bench. “He is becoming a member of us as a reserve guard and is keen about enjoying any function (coach) Tyronn Lue asks him to play,” mentioned Frank. “He desires to be a part of the group and we’re fortunate to get him again.”
The clippers need to protect Harden, who performed nearly 2,800 minutes final season on the age of 35 in his sixteenth season NBA. They think about Paul as an insurance coverage in opposition to accidents that usually have an effect on a listing throughout a season of 82 video games, along with the playoffs.
“The consciousness of the function, particularly on this subsequent level of the roster, can be basic,” mentioned Frank.
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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