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Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue broke his silence following reports that he and Chris Paul weren't on speaking terms for several weeks prior to the announcement of Paul's sudden split from the team on Wednesday (December 3).
“It just didn’t work out like we thought it would. I just think it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for. It is what it is,” Lue told reporters after the Clippers' 115-92 win against the Atlanta Hawks via the New York Post. “Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s been a friend of mine over the years. You never wanna see a great go out like this. But I’m pretty sure he will find something, because he’s a great player. … I didn’t wanna see it end like this.”
Lue's comments came hours after ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Paul clashed with the Clippers' leadership, specifically Lue, who he hadn't been on speaking terms with "for several weeks."
Paul, 40, one of the greatest players in franchise history, returned to the Clippers this past offseason ahead of what he later announced would be his final NBA season before retirement. The legendary point guard shared a post on his Instagram Story just before 3:00 a.m. ET claiming he was being sent home ahead of the Clippers' scheduled road game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
"We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team," Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank confirmed in a texted statement to ESPN Wednesday morning. "Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise."
The Clippers would need to waive Paul and payout his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him after the no-trade deadline of December 15 in order to move on from him. Los Angeles has lost 14 of its last 16 games, which includes five consecutive losses and is 5-16 through its first 21 games of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Paul, who is the franchise leader in assists and steals per game, has averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes per game in 16 appearances this season. The Clippers had already lost Bradley Beal, one of their biggest offseason acquisitions, to a season-ending hip injury.