Clippers Confront Reality About Chris Paul's Age
After decades of NBA history, the LA Clippers should have realized that the only 40-year-old player consistently performing at a high level is LeBron James. Yet, they signed Chris Paul, who is also 40, and expected to manage his minutes during the regular season while hoping for occasional standout performances in the playoffs.
By the end of the 2025-26 season’s fourth game, the Clippers already saw signs that their expectations were overly optimistic. Paul's debut in Salt Lake City revealed his struggles, not just through his four points and four assists, but notably his efficiency, as he shot only 1-for-5 from the field.
“Paul's veteran voice and basketball IQ will remain valuable, but maintaining consistency will be his toughest challenge over the remaining 78 games.”
Rotation Challenges and Guard Availability
When the Clippers had their full rotation healthy, Tyronn Lue held a discretionary DNP (Did Not Play) spot, which was occupied by Bogdan Bogdanovic. However, guard shortages during games three and four—due to Bradley Beal’s absence—pushed the Clippers to use a maxed-out ten-man rotation featuring four veteran guards.
Fortunately, all eleven players are available for tonight’s game and presumably moving forward. This could lead to some DNP decisions based purely on coaching strategy rather than forced by injuries.
Summary
The Clippers underestimated the challenge of relying on a 40-year-old Chris Paul to deliver consistent high-level play, revealing a need to adjust expectations as the season progresses.