Chris Paul has another objective besides winning his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Clippers this season.
Paul departed the San Antonio Spurs this summer and had multiple options to choose from, including retirement from professional basketball.
He eventually decided to return to the LA Clippers because he loves the organization and thinks they can contend for the title.
But the 12-time All-Star has something else on his mind heading into the 2025-26 season, which could be his last in the NBA.
Paul has always been a fierce competitor – evidenced by his nine All-Defensive Team selections – and that’s never going to change.
However, the 40-year-old realizes that this will probably be his last season as an NBA player, so he should probably try to savor it.
“You all who have seen me play for a while, I’m going to try to do better and try to smile a little bit more this year,” he said in his press conference with the LA Clippers, via ESPN.
“I’m grateful. I’m going to come out every single night, whatever that looks like, and try to make sure I show up for the team.”
And what better way to go out than to win your first ring? The Clippers certainly have a chance to make Paul achieve that.
Paul spoke about the Clippers’ other offseason signings, Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez, and has full confidence in the roster to make a postseason run.
“I’m just so excited about the moves that the team has made this offseason – Brad coming to the team, Brook Lopez, all the young guys,” he added.
“I talked to James [Harden], I talked to Kawhi [Leonard], and I’m even more excited about what I think we have a chance to do.”
Paul initially wanted to be a starter on his next team, but he has accepted that he will come off the bench for the Clippers next season.
“My role on this team is obviously different from what it’s been in the past 20 years, being in the NBA,” he continued.
“But showing up every day, if I can show some of the guys what it looks like every day to clock in and clock out, I’m excited for it.”
