'I've Lost A Lot Of Valuable Time': Chris Paul Reflects On Why He Joined The Clippers

Just days after signing his $3.6 million contract to return to the Clippers, Chris Paul sat down with Forbes and opened up on why he came back to LA. The 40-year-old guard is expected to see a significantly reduced role with the Clippers, yet that did not stop him from joining, as he reportedly wants to be a family man now. 

“That was the main factor… I grew up around all my family as a kid, right? I did the same things every week, every weekend, every Christmas Eve we did at my great-grandfather's church, right? We did all those different things at my grandfather's church.”

“It was wild, the past six years not getting to see my family, you know, and my kids, you know, how quickly they change and how fast they change. And obviously, this is the NASDAQ, Forbes, and everything and everyone's talking about wealth and money and all these different things, but the most valuable thing that we have is time.”

“And I’ve lost a lot of valuable time. Sacrifice and many people do that throughout their lives, and to each his own, but I knew that you know, this time now with my kids is very valuable. So, I cherish it.”

Chris Paul, an NBA star and future Hall of Famer, grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was raised in a close-knit family that emphasized discipline, faith, and hard work. 

Alongside his older brother C.J., Chris was coached by his father in youth basketball and developed a deep love for the game early on. He attended West Forsyth High School in nearby Clemmons, where he became a standout player.

Paul's roots in Winston-Salem remain important to him, and he continues to give back to the community through his philanthropic work and the Chris Paul Family Foundation. Paul started his career in New Orleans with the Hornets at the time (Pelicans now), but eventually went to LA to join the Clippers in 2011, where he got married.

His wife and kids live in LA as the star played for the Clippers for a significant portion of his career (2011-2017). Therefore, Paul needed to return to Los Angeles and be with his family.

In the 2024-25 NBA season, Chris Paul averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds while playing all 82 games in the regular season for the Spurs. 

At age 40, his ability to stay healthy throughout the season is a testament to how reliable the 'point god' is, even today. He may not be able to score like he used to in his prime, but he can still run the game for the Clippers' bench.