NBA rumors: Chris Paul reportedly sets major condition for potential Clippers return

After a 2024–25 season in which he played all 82 games with the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul is now looking for his next NBA destination. Among the many rumors and reports surrounding his future, one of the strongest possibilities appears to be the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the guard reportedly has a key condition before agreeing to the move.

“Chris Paul wants to be a starter… which is part of the reason why he evidently hasn’t made up his mind yet,” NBA writer Tim Reynolds posted on his official X account. “Clippers still very hopeful he picks them.”

Paul’s desire is no small detail. At 40 years old, he knows his time in the league is limited and clearly wants to spend his final stretch as a meaningful contributor—just as he has been for most of his career since being drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2005.

And his performance with the Spurs last season supports that expectation. He appeared in all 82 regular season games, averaging 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds—impressive numbers considering not only his age but also San Antonio’s struggles.

Chris Paul played for the San Antonio Spurs last season

The only time in Paul’s 20-year NBA career that he accepted a bench role was during the 2023–24 season with the Golden State Warriors. There, of course, the starting point guard spot belonged to Stephen Curry, and Paul started just 18 games that season. It was a short-lived experience, as he left the San Francisco team after just one year.

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Chris Paul left a strong legacy with the Clippers

Chris Paul played some of his best NBA basketball with the Clippers. He arrived in 2011 after six seasons with the Pelicans and quickly became a central piece of the team. During his time there, he averaged between 16.9 and 19.8 points per game and twice led the league in assists.

His production was crucial in helping the Clippers remain a Western Conference contender throughout his tenure. The team reached the playoffs in each of the six seasons Paul was there, including three trips to the conference semifinals.

What role could Chris Paul have with the Clippers?

Paul’s desire to be a starter next season doesn’t exactly align with the current state of the Clippers. For the past few years, the starting point guard spot has belonged to one of the team’s top stars, James Harden—and it’s hard to imagine head coach Tyronn Lue changing that.

It’s worth remembering that Harden and Paul were teammates for two seasons with the Houston Rockets, forming a successful backcourt duo—but also drawing speculation of tension off court. In fact, rumors of a strained relationship between them were cited as one of the possible reasons behind Paul’s departure to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.