Chris Paul’s return to the Clippers was short-lived, and Kawhi Leonard says he had nothing to do with how it ended.
Paul signed a one-year, $3.63 million deal with Los Angeles before the season, a move that initially looked like a quiet reunion. Instead, the partnership unraveled quickly.
Reports indicated Paul was not aligned with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy and head coach Tyronn Lue, particularly regarding Leonard’s usage during a Nov. 29 game against Dallas, a disagreement that helped accelerate the split.
Leonard pushed back on any suggestion that he played a role.
“Surprised at it,” Leonard said, via Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated. “He’s always been a willing teammate when I’ve spoke to him. Our conversations have always been positive and team-forward. I didn’t have nothing to do with it.”
On the court, Paul’s impact was limited. In 16 games during his second stint with the Clippers, the 40-year-old averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 32.1 percent from the field.
Paul previously announced plans to retire following the season. Whether he appears in another NBA game before then remains unclear, leaving open the possibility that his final minutes may already be behind him.
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