For reasons largely of his own self-interest, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick hopes Chris Paul retires with a glaring omission on his NBA resume.
Paul reportedly is hanging it up after the 2025-26 season. Redick quipped that “I hope he doesn’t win an NBA championship because that would mean the Clippers win an NBA championship.”
The Los Angeles Clippers lifting a trophy while the LeBron James and Luka Dončić-led Lakers watch from afar would be a blow to the ego of Redick and anybody affiliated with the organization.
He doesn’t have to worry about anything on that front on the basis of how this year has opened.
The Clippers are 5-11 so far and sit 12th in the Western Conference. The oldest roster in the league has showed its age, and Bradley Beal’s season-ending hip injury was a big setback.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Kawhi Leonard is set to suit up Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two-time NBA Finals MVP hasn’t played since L.A.’s 120-119 loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 3.
Even having Leonard at his peak may not be enough to make the Clippers a serious contender, though.
In order for Paul to earn the title that has eluded him, a change of scenery might be required. CP3 suiting up for a different team would likely lead Redick to reassess how he’d view any on-court success for his former Clippers teammate.
