‘Surprised’ Kawhi Leonard Bluntly Denies Involvement in Chris Paul’s Stunning Exit Claiming Clippers Kept Him in Dark

Los Angeles Clippers v Sacramento Kings - Source: Getty
Los Angeles Clippers v Sacramento Kings - Source: Getty

The abrupt release of Chris Paul continues to hound the LA Clippers, as players keep getting asked about the 12-time All-Star. Notably, one of the team's main stars denied any knowledge of Paul's exit before it was announced by the Clippers organization.

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At a media availability on Sunday, Kawhi Leonard was asked to give his reaction to Paul's release and to describe his relationship with the Point God. Leonard responded with positive words for his one-time teammate.

"Surprised at it," Leonard said of Paul's exit from the team. "He’s always been a willing teammate when I’ve spoke to him. Only thing I could talk about is our conversations. And they’ve always been positive and team-forward."
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Interestingly, the former Finals MVP went on to comment that he played no part in the machinations to let go of Paul, who was set to retire at the end of his second (but significantly shorter) stint with the Clippers.

"I didn’t have nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know what was going on," Leonard added.

On Dec. 3, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank announced that the team would be letting go of Paul. Instead of flying with the Clippers to Atlanta that day, the six-time steals leader was sent home to Los Angeles.

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Details on the dynamic between Paul and Clippers management have since come to light, with reports stating that he had been highly vocal in holding coaches and the front office accountable. Allegedly, Clippers head coach Ty Lue had not spoken to Paul for weeks leading up to the 21-year pro's dismissal.

"Love you man": Chris Paul extends support to Victor Wembanyama in crucial Emirates NBA Cup game

Though there's no telling whether Paul will land with another NBA team this season, he has continued to make his presence felt in the league.

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On Saturday, Paul attended the San Antonio Spurs' semifinal matchup against the OKC Thunder in the Emirates NBA Cup. After the Spurs defeated the Thunder to advance to the NBA Cup final, Paul (who spent the 2024-25 season in San Antonio) shared a moment with his former teammate Victor Wembanyama.

"After the Spurs’ big win in Vegas, Chris Paul- who contributed to the evolution of both OKC and San Antonio- called over Victor Wembanyama. 'Love you, man!' he told his former teammate as they hugged it out. Quiet moment. Big respect," Spurs beat reporter Dusty Garza tweeted.
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Though Paul has announced that he'll be retiring at the end of this season, it's possible that he could resurface as a member of a team's coaching staff or front office. If that's the case, this might not be the last public interaction between him and Wembanyama.

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Edited by Simoun Victor Redoblado
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