Clippers Face Reality About Chris Paul's Performance
With decades of NBA history behind them, the LA Clippers should have anticipated that very few 40-year-olds perform consistently at a high level, with LeBron James being a rare exception. The Clippers signed Chris Paul, also 40, hoping to carefully manage his minutes during the regular season and expect occasional standout playoff performances.
Early Signs of Struggle in the 2025-26 Season
Although the season was only four games in, Paul's debut in Salt Lake City revealed the team’s expectations might have been overly optimistic. His 1-for-5 shooting and modest output of four points and four assists highlighted efficiency issues rather than volume.
Paul’s veteran presence and basketball IQ remain valuable, but maintaining consistent performance will be his greatest challenge over the remaining 78 games.
Rotation and Guard Availability
When the Clippers’ full lineup was available, coach Tyronn Lue chose to sit Bogdan Bogdanovic as the designated DNP (Did Not Play). However, with guard Bradley Beal missing games three and four, the Clippers had to rotate a maximum group of ten players, including four veteran guards. Fortunately, all eleven players are now available, reducing the likelihood of benching players for strategic reasons moving forward.
Summary
The Clippers underestimated the difficulty of sustaining high-level play from a 40-year-old Chris Paul, whose experience helps but whose consistency remains a concern as the season progresses.
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