Chris Paul Calls Experience With Clippers ‘Disrespectful’

He appeared in just 16 games before the Clippers decided to “part ways” with him in early December, keeping him on the roster, but sending him home. That continued until he was traded to Toronto in February in a financially motivated move. There was never an expectation that he would play for the Raptors, and they waived him eight days after the deal was completed. He announced his retirement on the same day.

Paul speaks out about the experience on the Build or Break podcast (Twitter video link), blasting the Clippers for the way they handled the situation and calling it an embarrassing way to wrap up his time in the NBA.

“What’s interesting about that whole situation is, it’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured,” he said. “… I’ve been through a lot of wild stuff in my career, and having older kids and a wife who’s very tapped in, and they know the daily goings on as far as that team and that organization.”

During his first stint with the Clippers, Paul was instrumental in giving them a positive identity after years of losing. He teamed with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to form the core of “Lob City,” which became one of the most exciting teams in the league and produced multiple highlights in most games.

Injuries and other bad luck prevented the team from having much success in the playoffs, but they topped 50 wins in five straight seasons before Paul was traded to Houston in 2017.

Paul is the Clippers’ career leader in assists with 4,076 and ranks seventh on the team’s scoring list with 7,721 points. He was an All-Star in five of his six seasons with L.A. and earned All-NBA honors five times.

His status among the greatest players in Clippers history made last season’s breakup even tougher to take.

“Obviously I was upset, but my family, my people, everybody,” Paul said. “… I think just because of the investment we made in the team for as long as we have, and to see the way stuff was handled. What it lets you know is that no matter what you do or what you’ve done, nobody cares.”