NBA Trade Report: Veteran guard Chris Paul Agrees to one-year deal with LA Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have significantly strengthened their roster for the upcoming 2025–26 National Basketball Association (NBA) season by adding veteran Chris Paul, with the guard set to return to the franchise for his 21st professional season.

NBA insider and ESPN’s Shams Charania took to social networking platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to confirm the development, stating:

“Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan, and Jessica Holtz told ESPN. Paul had multiple suitors but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in Los Angeles for his likely final, 21st NBA season.”

Another NBA insider, Chris Haynes, also confirmed the news, adding:

“Future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul has reached an agreement to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year, $3.6 million deal.”

Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN. Paul had multiple suitors, but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in L.A. for his likely final, 21st NBA season. pic.twitter.com/qC640MFFeI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2025

Paul is coming off a 2024–25 season with the San Antonio Spurs, where he played on a one-year, $10.9 million deal and entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent for the second season in a row. While he averaged a career-low 8.8 points per game last season, Paul continued to contribute as a playmaker, averaging 7.4 assists and 1.6 turnovers per game. Additionally, he remained dependable on the court despite being 40 years old, starting in all 82 games for San Antonio last season.

This also marks a return to the Clippers, the team he joined in 2011 and spent six seasons with, during which he became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,023) and averaged 2.2 steals per game. While no longer at his peak, he brings invaluable experience, talent, and leadership, and boasts career averages of 17.9 points and 9.2 assists per game. His 2,717 career steals rank second in NBA history, behind only John Stockton’s 3,265.

Selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA Draft, Paul has also played for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Spurs. Despite his long and successful career, he has yet to win an NBA championship.

However, Paul has earned numerous individual honors, including being named the 2013 NBA All-Star Game MVP, the 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year, a five-time NBA assists leader, six-time steals leader, four-time All-NBA First Team selection, seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, and 12-time NBA All-Star, among other accolades.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.