Chris Paul described his return to the Los Angeles Clippers as a no-brainer, speaking with genuine emotion during his introductory press conference at the Intuit Dome. Now 40 years old, the veteran point guard emphasized family, gratitude, and unfinished business as key motivations for rejoining the franchise he once led from 2011 to 2017.

Chris Paul on Home and Legacy

Dispelling narratives that he’d only return as a guaranteed starter, Paul said, “When you’re in this lifestyle for a while, people try to tell your story for you.” Instead, the decision was personal. Being close to home and around his family carried immense weight. He credited his time with the San Antonio Spurs as pivotal, saying, “Without this past year in San Antonio, I don’t have this opportunity to come back here and play this year,” offering thanks to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs organization.

Touring the Clippers’ new arena was a surreal moment for Paul. “This is one of those things I kind of manifested for a long time,” he said, describing the powerful experience of seeing his name in the locker room and on the Halo board. When asked about his No. 3 jersey possibly being retired, he acknowledged the honor it would carry. “It would mean everything,” he said, recalling memories with former teammates like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and the unwavering support from fans.

New Season, Renewed Connections

Chris Paul Clippers
Chris Paul in the newest Clippers threads.

Paul highlighted his long-standing relationship with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, sharing a moment from last summer when he visited the arena out of sheer curiosity. He recalled how Ballmer’s family-first attitude resonated deeply with him. “I asked how many games he was going to come to. He said if his kid had a game, he wasn’t coming to ours. I appreciated that.”

Looking to the future, Paul expressed excitement about the Clippers’ recent additions, including Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez. “I just wanted to be home, be here with the Clippers,” he said. “I talked to James, I talked to Kawhi. I’m excited about what I think we have a chance to do.”

He also praised head coach Tyronn Lue, formerly an assistant during Paul’s earlier Clippers stint. “Teams have to prepare for him,” Paul said, emphasizing Lue’s ability to adapt and outthink opponents.

Embracing a New Role

Paul acknowledged the adjustment that comes with a potential reserve role but made it clear he’s ready. “If I can show some of the guys what it looks like every day to clock in and clock out, I’m excited for it.”

Being around his family more often has been a welcome change—at least for him. “They probably tired of me already,” he joked. “But it’s just been really cool to be around them and not feel the countdown starting for me to leave again.”

As he looked ahead to the season, Paul reflected on the Clippers fan base and his memories of section 114. “They are really fans of the game,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to play here again.”