Appearing Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show (Twitter video link), Chris Paul stated that family concerns will shape the remainder of his NBA career. They will factor into how much longer the 40-year-old guard wants to continue playing as well as where he might sign this offseason.
“It’s with my family more than anything,” Paul said. “My son just turned 16. My daughter is 12. The past six seasons, I’ve lived without them. I go to San Antonio, Phoenix, Golden State — they were in Houston with me — Oklahoma City… I’ve been around a few teams, but I’ve been away from them the last six years. It’s a little different. That’s the conversation.”
Paul will be back on the free agent market after signing a one-year deal with the Spurs last summer. Brought in to help mentor Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio’s other young players, Paul proved he can still be productive on the court. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 28 minutes per night with .427/.377/.924 shooting numbers.
A return to the Spurs might be unlikely considering they traded for De’Aaron Fox in February and appear ready to select Dylan Harper with the No. 2 pick in the draft. If Paul moves on, he figures to get plenty of interest from playoff contenders who are looking for a strong floor leader.
Paul’s family lives in Los Angeles, so a return to the Clippers could be in the cards. He spent six years with the organization, earning All-NBA honors five times and making it one of the NBA’s most exciting teams. Paul could also ponder teaming up with long-time friend LeBron James on the Lakers.
Paul didn’t sound ready for retirement in the interview with McAfee, as he said his body still feels good. Most likely, it will be a year-by-year decision to see how much longer he wants to keep playing.
“Well, I don’t think I want to play for a while,” Paul said. “I’m being honest with you — I want to be Dad. I still love to play. I was up in the gym at 6 am this morning. Yesterday, I was in the gym. Day before, I was in the gym. It’s crazy. You know, my daughter actually hoops now, so before I flew out here, I was in the gym with her for 20 minutes. With kids, sometimes you gotta do short sessions, so I was in 20 minutes doing ball handling with her, and it was priceless. You don’t get that time back.”
Paul also talked about projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, whom he’s worked out with in advance of the June 25 draft, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (subscription required). Paul was on a group chat with other San Antonio players during the lottery, and there was a lot of excitement as the Mavericks and Spurs had the final two envelopes.
“I’m in L.A. right now, and Cooper Flagg has been out there,” Paul said. “I’ve been in the gym with him a couple times and whatnot. He’s as real as advertised.”
Marc Stein previously identified Dallas as a possible landing spot for Paul, since the Mavs will be looking for backcourt help while Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL tear.
State Farm is there, but Chris Paul is not…
Which is the better neighbor?
The real question is if they call Jake “dad”
He’s nothing more than a veteran backup at this point in his career.
Amazing observation. Excellent work.
Well to be fair, his comment is better than yours.
All your comment does is make you look like a dick.
CP3 with the Lakers, doesn’t make much sense on the court cause obviously Bron is ball dominant then you’ve got Luka one of the best point guards in the league and Reaves who is near all star level and also a point guard having to play SG.
Maybe if they traded Reaves then sure grab CP3 for coming off the bench and leading that second unit but I don’t think that’s likely.
The clippers that makes sense cause they never really settled on a backcourt partner for James Harden. Kris Dunn and Norman Powell got reps there and even Bogdan got minutes there towards the end.
Either way even if he comes off the bench he’d be a good back up on that team.
He wants too much money and too large a role, he already has felt out that literally no one wants him in that role, so now he’s saying “family first”.
Just retire already, you were a curse on every team you played on. Never winning a title ever.
San Antonio listen
Offer Fox and Sochan with future picks to the 76ers for the 3rd pick and etc, then flip etc.
Draft Harper and Bailey then with the 14th pick get a PF. Castle moves to the SG spot
Or make an offer for Flagg
Resign Paul to help Harper
Get one timeline with Wemby not three
Gives San Antonio their future and can set for a championship soon
Why would they wanna trade De’Aaron Fox for Ace Bailey? $ reasons?
If they are going to draft Harper then why need Fox.
PG. Harper SG. Castle SF. Bailey or someone else PF. 14th pick C. Wemby. Vassell sixth man of the year. Draft international prospects in later drafts. Give it two years then championship
Get on one timeline with Wemby not three
Plus Fox is overrated
Robinson, Duncan, Elliot, Parker, Manu etc etc etc etc etc were all drafted by the Spurs and not bought in like they have been doing lately
Darren Collison put family first.
CP3 is afraid to retire.
Did I miss the most critical part of this article? So what city/state is the family in? Pretty telling where he’s gonna try and go if he goes somewhere.
“Paul’s family lives in Los Angeles”
Who did he put first up until this article?
I think CP3 on the Lakers would be kinda tragic, but with the Clippers he might be able to provide some spark off the bench still and would be nice for him to end his career in a team he cemented a lot of his legacy.