Clippers Face Reality with Chris Paul's Performance
Despite the extensive history of the NBA, the LA Clippers should have recognized that the only 40-year-old player likely to perform at an elite level consistently is LeBron James. The Clippers signed Chris Paul, who shares that age, expecting to manage his minutes during the regular season and still see impactful performances in the playoffs.
Early Season Performance and Expectations
By the fourth game of the 2025-26 season, it was clear that the Clippers' hopes might have been overly optimistic. Paul's debut in Salt Lake City raised concerns—not because of his four points and four assists, but due to his inefficiency, shooting just 1-for-5 from the field.
"Paul's veteran voice and high IQ will be needed, but consistency will be his biggest challenge over the Clippers' next 78 games."
Team Rotation Challenges
When the Clippers had their full roster, Tyronn Lue designated Bogdan Bogdanovic as the DNP (Did Not Play) option. The absence of guard Bradley Beal in games three and four left the team short-handed, pushing their ten-man rotation, which included four veteran guards, to its limit.
Currently, all eleven Clippers players are available, which should reduce coaching decisions to bench players further, allowing a more flexible rotation moving forward.
Summary
The Clippers’ signing of 40-year-old Chris Paul has highlighted the challenges of expecting consistent high-level performance from a veteran, with early season struggles underscoring the need for managed expectations and rotation adjustments.
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