The unceremonious end to Chris Paul’s celebrated career has left too many questions. Among the Whys and Hows, the bigger doubt was who was to blame. A superficial assumption might be that the LA Clippers’ struggling 5-16 record is due to Chris Paul’s 2.9 PPG this season. However, a deeper look reveals a rift between the player and the organization off the court.

Paul was seemingly as blindsided as we were when he was ‘sent home.’ He posted the very clipped announcement on his Instagram Story that indicated it. And perhaps there was no sign that the Clippers would abruptly cut his farewell tour short. But there were reportedly obvious hints the front office was not pleased with him.

A detailed breakdown of how the Clippers and CP3’s relationship fell apart by The Athletic revealed the following. “League sources say Paul had several meetings recently with Clippers officials regarding their concerns with his approach, with one source indicating that there was a request for him to stop with the ‘locker room lawyering.'”

His intense, critical style in team discussions. Paul was reportedly vocal about issues with coaching, teammates, and management, which teammates and staff found overly harsh amid the team’s struggles.

Paul’s strong veteran leadership clashed with the group, as he held players, coaches like Tyronn Lue (with whom he hadn’t spoken in weeks), and the front office accountable in ways deemed disruptive.

According to these sources, the 40-year-old was taking a very strong veteran stance in the locker room.

All of this transpired following Paul hinting at his retirement on November 22, 2025, via social media before the Clippers’ game against the Charlotte Hornets—his original NBA team where he played from 2005-2011.

Paul posted a video stating he was “GRATEFUL for this last one!!” ahead of the Clippers’ 131-116 win in Charlotte, North Carolina, his home state and where he attended Wake Forest. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed Paul’s plan to retire after the 2025-26 season, his 21st in the NBA, amid the Clippers’ 4-11 start.

Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal in July 2025 to return to the Clippers as a veteran mentor on what was framed as his farewell tour, with expectations he would play more to provide leadership and stability.

One incident happened when the team was reviewing film. Paul was openly critical which cemented Lawrence Frank’s and his team’s decision to sever ties with him.

Still no explanation for Chris Paul’s treatment

In the initial statement, Lawrence Frank claimed that Paul’s “Underperformance” was not a reason for his unofficial dismissal. This time, the GM told The Athletic that his decision, “had nothing to do with one incident or one meeting that did or did not happen.”

He, however, never specifies the driving factor behind cutting ties with Chris Paul. However, he has provided enough context to suggest that mutual frustration had been building up on both sides. Although Paul probably envisioned the team improving while the Clippers decided they’d move on without him.

Former Clippers player Lou Williams (he wasn’t Paul’s teammate) slammed any implication that CP3 is a locker room downer. “CP3 even addressed the team and apologized, saying, ‘My criticism is coming from a good place. I want us to be a good team. I want us to get this thing right.’ He was just holding guys accountable,” he said on Run it Back and was pretty mad about the treatment a player of Paul’s calibre is getting. He’s not the only one, either.

Paul hoped to retire after this season as a Clipper, a team he spent his prime years with, leading the Lob City era from 2011 to 2017. Unless he gets traded elsewhere, he might not get that grand send-off final game like old friends, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade did. And even then, it won’t be in LA.

Instead, Paul’s last memory with the Clippers was a face-to-face with Frank at 11 PM on Tuesday. After a difficult three-hour talk, he was sent home. He’d post the ominous message on his Stories about it a day after he was celebrating his return to the team.

Fans were disheartened by the news everywhere.