The 2025-26 NBA season will likely close out the storied career of “The Point God,” but not before Chris Paul and James Harden get their reunion. The two former Houston Rockets teammates will lace up together once again, after it was widely thought that Paul would spend his last NBA days playing alongside longtime friend, LeBron James, for the other Los Angeles team, the Lakers. The Lakers were interested in bringing the veteran on board, but ultimately, Paul chose their city rival. Now with the Clippers, Paul recently addressed some ‘unfinished business’ he and Harden have to take care of.
Chris Paul’s Reunion with Ex-Teammate Spells “Unfinished Business”
Los Angeles Clippers created a Chris Paul and James Harden Reunion that has the former feeling thrilled for the second opportunity
There are many within the NBA media and other closely related circles that claim that had Paul not dealt with injuries during his Rockets tenure, he and Harden would both be wearing a championship ring by now. Perhaps that is the ‘unfinished business’ Paul is alluding to when he spoke about teaming up with Harden again, and rejoining the Clippers, with whom he spent six seasons from 2011 to 17. Paul laid everything out during a press conference recently and explained why those days in Houston were some of the best of his career.
“Yeah, we talked about it and talked about just the history of obviously being there in Houston. And it’s funny, man, cause that clip or whatnot that goes around. It was a lot of stuff, funnier and stuff like that than that. That was just sort of our relationship.
“But I think that’s what made that team so good, you know, we got on each other in different situations. But that team, I can honestly say, was one of the funnest teams I’ve ever been on in my career. James is one of those guys who loves to be in the gym all day long.
“And so, it’s wild that you get this opportunity again after those two years and the success that we had. And we find we definitely know we had unfinished business. So, we get a chance to see what’s going on here.”
Clippers version one versus version two
When Paul was with the Clippers the first time around, he played on a consistent playoff contender. Those teams included the likes of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, JJ Redick, and Doc Rivers as the head coach. Paul was at the height of his career, and Griffin and Jordan made the Clippers high-flying and the most entertaining team to watch in the league. Playoff success eluded them, however. Redick would speak on numerous occasions following his playing career, saying that those Clippers runs were one missed opportunity after another.
Unfortunately, not much has changed for the Clippers in the last several years. Harden eventually joined with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who has since departed. However, injuries eliminated any chance for the Clippers to compete in the postseason. Now, Paul joins an aged roster that recently also added Bradley Beal, John Collins, and Brook Lopez—all veterans with varying degrees of success. Only Lopez holds a championship ring.
For many, this new Clippers iteration is simply a bunch of high-profile names, and nothing more. To others, if health and availability can be sustained throughout an 82-game season, the Clippers are serious contenders in the West. Regardless, for Paul, this is almost certainly his last ride. You have to wonder, though, that the chances he ends his career without a ring seem significantly greater than ending it with one.
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