Chris Paul has another purpose in addition to winning his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Clippers this season.
Paul left the San Antonio Spurs this summer and had multiple options, including retirement from professional basketball.
He eventually decided to return to the LA Clippers. Because he loves the organization and believes he can compete for the title.
But the 12-time All-Star has something else in his mind as he heads into the 2025-26 season.
Paul has always been a fierce competitor, proven by the choices of all nine defensive teams – that will never change.
But the 40-year-old realizes that this will probably be his last season as an NBA player, so perhaps he should try and taste it.
“Everyone who have seen me play for a while, I’m going to try and smile a little more, trying to do better this year,” he told the news conference with the LA Clippers via ESPN.
“I’m grateful. I try to make sure I show up to the team every night, whatever.”
And what is a better way to go out than to win your first ring? The Clippers certainly have an opportunity to get Paul to achieve that.
Paul talks about the Clippers’ other offseason signatures, Bradley Beale and Brook Lopez, and is totally confident in his postseason running roster.
“I’m so excited about this move that the team made this offseason. Brad is here on the team, Brooke Lopez, all the young people,” he added.
“I talked to James (Harden) and I spoke to Kauhi (Leonard).
Paul initially wanted to be the starter for the next team, but he accepted to be out of the Clippers’ bench next season.
“My role on this team is clearly different from what I’ve been in the NBA over the past 20 years,” he continued.
“But if I could show up every day and show some people every day that they clock in and come out from time to time, I’m excited about it.”