Look, if you’ve spent any time on NBA Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the "washed" allegations. People love to point at the box scores from this 2025-26 season—the low scoring, the DNPs, the weird late-night release from the Clippers in December. It's easy to look at a 40-year-old guard and think the magic is gone. But if you’re actually watching the game, and I mean really watching the way the floor shifts when he steps on it, you know the Chris Paul story is way more complicated than just a declining shooting percentage.
Chris Paul isn't just a basketball player; he’s essentially a grandmaster playing speed chess against world-class athletes. And honestly? He’s still winning the mental game, even if his hamstrings are screaming at him.
The Clippers Drama: What Really Went Down?
Everyone was shocked when the news broke on December 3, 2025. One minute Chris Paul is back in Los Angeles, trying to lead a veteran roster alongside James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, and the next, he's being cut loose. The reports from Shams Charania and Chris Haynes painted a messy picture. We’re talking about a complete breakdown in communication where Tyronn Lue and Paul weren't even on speaking terms for weeks.
Why? Because Chris Paul is an "All-NBA irritant," as some fans call him.
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He holds everyone—management, coaches, the 15th man on the bench—to a standard that most human beings find exhausting. In San Antonio, that was exactly what Victor Wembanyama needed. A drill sergeant. But in a locker room full of established vets like the Clippers? That "Point God" energy can start to feel like "Point Nagger." Lawrence Frank eventually had to admit it just wasn't the right fit. It wasn't about one fight; it was about the friction of a guy who refuses to accept anything less than perfection.
Beyond the "Ringless" Argument
The biggest stick people use to beat Paul’s legacy is the lack of a championship ring. It’s the ultimate casual-fan argument. But let’s look at the actual impact metrics.
Whenever Chris Paul joins a team, they get better. Immediately.
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- New Orleans: Turned a lottery team into a 56-win contender.
- The Clippers: Created "Lob City" and took a perennial joke of a franchise to the elite tier.
- OKC: Everyone thought they were tanking. Paul dragged a bunch of kids to the playoffs instead.
- Phoenix: They hadn't seen the playoffs in a decade. He took them to the Finals in year one.
The "CP3 Effect" is a real, measurable statistical phenomenon. His basketball IQ allows him to manipulate defenders using nothing but his eyes and a subtle shift in balance. He’s only 6 feet tall—maybe 5'11" on a bad day—yet he’s spent twenty years dominating a league of giants. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because he understands momentum and angles better than almost anyone who has ever laced them up.
The Mid-Range Maestro
In an era where everyone is obsessed with the three-pointer, Paul stayed true to the elbow jumper. It’s his sanctuary. He gets to his spot, rises up, and it’s pure. Even now, in 2026, when he does get minutes, his ability to manipulate a pick-and-roll is a coaching clinic in real-time. He waits for the defender to lean just a fraction of an inch the wrong way, and then—boom—the pass is already in the shooter's pocket.
The Business of Being CP3
You can't talk about Chris Paul without mentioning that he's basically a mogul at this point. He served as the NBPA President for eight years, which is a thankless, high-pressure job. Off the court, his portfolio is ridiculous. We’re talking about everything from plant-based snacks (Good Eat'n) to minority ownership in the Rajasthan Royals (cricket) and the Winston-Salem Dash.
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He’s not just playing for a paycheck—though with career earnings north of $400 million, the paychecks are nice. He's building an empire. He’s also been one of the biggest advocates for HBCUs, even partnering with Harvard to bring management courses to North Carolina A&T.
What’s Next for the Point God?
Despite the awkward exit from the Clippers and the rumors of retirement, Marc Spears recently reported that Paul "absolutely" isn't done. He wants one more run. Whether that’s a reunion with a contender or a final mentorship role, the league is better when Chris Paul is in it.
If you want to understand the game at a deeper level, stop looking at the highlights and start watching Paul during a dead ball. Watch how he talks to his teammates. Watch how he points out defensive rotations three steps before they happen. That’s the real Chris Paul.
How to follow the rest of CP3's journey:
- Watch the "On-Off" splits: When he joins a new team (or if he returns to one), look at how the team's offensive rating changes when he's on the floor versus the bench. It’s usually a massive gap.
- Study the Pick-and-Roll: If you're a young guard, find tape of his 2021 Suns run. It’s the gold standard for how to manage a game without being the fastest or tallest guy on the court.
- Follow the CP3 Academy: His work with young athletes in North Carolina is arguably where his long-term legacy will live.
Chris Paul might be 40, and he might be ringless, but he is the last of a dying breed: the pure, uncompromising floor general. Love him or hate him, you're going to miss him when he's gone.