Chris Paul arrived in Los Angeles intent on becoming a stabilizing leader for a Clippers roster still searching for identity.
The veteran guard has built a reputation for accountability and structure, so naturally he tried to bond early, team outings, film sessions, and even a Halloween party meant to spark camaraderie.
His efforts were met with crickets rather than connection.
Before he was let go by LAC, he tried multiple times to connect with his teammates.
“Some of the things early on — like, he invited guys to his suite at the Rams game, and he threw a Halloween party, and then… no one came,” according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “After that, they get worked the first night in Utah, which makes this even sadder. Like, seriously — a Halloween party, and maybe three players showed up. I think Brad came, and Zubac. Chris is trying to be like, ‘I’m going to help you build some culture. I’ll bring guys over to my house. Let’s work out together. Let’s have a Halloween party. He and his wife threw the party in the suite after the Halloween game — and again, only three players came. So you’re looking at this and thinking: he’s trying to fill the leadership void the way he knows how, and every time he did, they would kind of recoil. Like, ‘Eh, it’s too much.’”
The party turnout, reportedly only three players, highlights something bigger than just missed hors d’oeuvres. It is symbolic of the disconnect between Paul and his old-school leadership style and a Clippers locker room still adjusting to his presence.
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