Chris Paul, the former Clipper, seemingly responded to the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament with a meme.
There were no words, but Paul posted an image on his Instagram story. The internet is aware this image comes with the caption, “I stopped by one of my biggest haters funeral today just to make sure that … was dead.”
Time does not appear to be healing any wounds so far.
Paul’s Exit and Grievances
This season saw Paul sign with the team for his final NBA season, fall out with leadership after they didn’t appreciate his presence in the locker room, get permanently exiled from the organisation, get dealt to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline and finally retire rather than try to hop onto a contender.
Paul, the Clippers’ all-time assists leader, has aired grievances on his friend Carmelo Anthony’s podcast since retiring.
Clippers’ Play-In Collapse
The Clippers lost to a diminished Warriors team that got Stephen Curry back only a week ago. The Clippers seemingly had 10 different opportunities to turn a big lead into an insurmountable one.
They failed at that every single time, and then got ripped apart by a vintage Curry and the Warriors’ other aging veterans down the stretch. They led for 85% of the game, at home, and lost.
Draft Pick Woes and Investigation
The Clippers won’t even get to enjoy a lottery pick. They owe their unprotected 2026 first-rounder to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the Paul George trade, which could now land in the top four. They do have the Indiana Pacers’ pick thanks to the Ivica Zubac trade, but that only goes to them if it lands between Nos. 5-9.
- Owe unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Oklahoma City Thunder
- Pick could land in the top four
- Have Indiana Pacers’ pick, but only if it lands between Nos. 5-9
The team is also still awaiting the results of the NBA’s investigation into their Leonard-Aspiration scandal, which could come with significant repercussions if the league finds they circumvented the salary cap.
The Paul situation was another chapter of dysfunction in the Clippers’ recent history, but it might only be one part of a bad 2026 for them.