LeBron James Breaks Silence After Close Friend Signs With Rival

Though they’ve never been on the same team together, LeBron James and Chris Paul have remained close friends throughout their time in the NBA.

For the first time in the 20 seasons they’ve spent in the league, the two had the chance to team up on the Los Angeles Lakers, but Paul decided to go elsewhere. Instead of signing with the Lakers, Paul agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, cross-town rival of James’ current team.

In his first comment on his friend joining the Clippers, James posted on Instagram, writing “This is dope!! Happiness written all over his face!! Congrats @CP3,” reacting to a picture of Paul in his new uniform.

Paul played for the Clippers from 2011-2017, becoming the franchise leader in assists. He spent the next few years on five different teams, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was one of 11 players to appear in all 82 regular-season games. The 40-year-old signed a one-year $3.6 million deal with the Clippers for what could be his final NBA season. 

LeBron James Happy For Chris Paul

James’ reaction to Paul isn’t all that surprising, even though the Lakers and Clippers have gone back and forth in competitive matchups since he joined L.A. in 2018. James has been very open about his friendship with Paul, even stating that he was rooting for the Phoenix Suns in their 2021 NBA Finals matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“We actually met for the first time when we were in eighth grade. We played in the same AAU national basketball tournament in Orlando,” James said on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2021. “Officially met my junior year, his sophomore year, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

James also mentioned that Paul was present during the birth of Bryce James, saying that the 11-time All-NBA point guard is his son’s godfather.

There’s also the famous Banana Boat picture from 2015, with James, Paul, Dwyane Wade, and his wife Gabrielle Union. Carmelo Anthony is the fourth in that friendship circle of James, Paul, and Wade, but wasn’t present in the picture.

With P.J. Tucker still unsigned, both James and Paul are the two oldest players currently on NBA rosters. Both are also top-two in games played by active players, James suiting up for a record 1,562 with Paul a bit behind at 1,354 league appearances.

Paul Chose Clippers Over Lakers

Paul nearly went to the Lakers in 2011 to team up with Kobe Bryant, but the trade was denied by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern, who was the acting owner of the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) at the time.

While he had the chance to make that move to the Lakers a reality this offseason, Paul chose to sign with the Clippers, the team he spent six seasons with during their ‘Lob City’ era. Speaking at his introductory press conference, the 12-time All-Star sounded confident that a return to the Clippers was always in the cards, even if it meant he couldn’t team up with his friend James.

“It was a no-brainer,” Paul said. “If I’m really honest, I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary.”

While the Lakers made the additions of Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Jake LaRavia, the Clippers were perhaps busier over the offseason, signing Paul, Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and landing John Collins in a trade.

“I’m just so excited about the moves that the team has made this offseason,” Paul said. “Brad coming to the team, Brook Lopez, all the young guys. I talked to James [Harden], I talked to Kawhi [Leonard], and I’m even more excited about what I think we have a chance to do.”

Paul ranks second in all-time assists and steals in NBA history, behind only John Stockton on both lists.