Clippers Facing Reality with Chris Paul’s Age
The LA Clippers, given the NBA’s long history, should have expected that very few players perform at a high level at age 40, with LeBron James being the rare exception. Chris Paul, who is also 40, was signed under the assumption that he could be paced during the regular season and still deliver strong playoff performances.
Early Signs of Challenges
After just four games into the 2025-26 season, it became clear the Clippers’ expectations for Paul might have been too optimistic. His debut in Salt Lake City was revealing not because of the four points and four assists he scored, but due to his lack of shooting efficiency—he was only 1-for-5 from the field.
Veteran Leadership vs. Consistency
Despite his decreasing efficiency, Paul’s veteran experience and high basketball IQ remain valuable assets for the Clippers. The bigger challenge for him lies in maintaining consistency throughout the remaining 78 games of the season.
Roster and Rotation Insights
- Tyronn Lue’s rotation previously included a DNP spot for Bogdan Bogdanovic when the full roster was available.
- The Clippers faced a shortage of guards during games three and four when Bradley Beal was unavailable, maxing out a ten-man rotation with four veteran guards.
- All eleven Clippers players are available for tonight’s game, which should reduce the need for DNP decisions based on coaching choices.
"Paul’s veteran voice and high IQ will be needed, but consistency will be his biggest challenge over the Clippers' next 78 games."
Moving forward, the availability of the full roster may improve the team’s flexibility in scheduling playing time and maintaining performance.
Author’s summary: The Clippers are beginning to confront the reality that, like most 40-year-olds, Chris Paul's ability to perform consistently at a high level may decline despite his veteran savvy and leadership.