Clippers coach Ty Lue is clearing up the rumors about his relationship with Chris Paul. He directly denied reports that he and the veteran guard stopped talking before Paul left the team. Lue told reporters that the story about them giving each other the silent treatment is “not true.”
According to Sports Illustrated, several NBA insiders had claimed that Paul’s aggressive leadership style caused problems with some teammates. The reports also suggested that Paul and Lue completely stopped communicating, which made the situation seem even worse.
Lue strongly disagreed with these claims. “That ain’t true,” he said when asked if he was ignoring Paul. “We were talking.” He then asked a simple question: “How he gonna play if I’m not talking to him?” Lue explained that he and Paul had a 40-minute phone conversation at one point. He emphasized that their friendship goes back years, saying, “And that’s my guy. My friend before he got here.”
The real issue was about playing time, not personal conflict
While Lue denied ignoring Paul, he did admit there was tension during the season. The problem came when Paul was going to be removed from the regular rotation. “It was tough for him because he’s a competitor and what the game means to him and what he brings every single day,” Lue said. For a player as competitive as Chris Paul, losing playing time would naturally be difficult. This was likely the real source of the rumors, not some childish silent treatment.
Despite Lue saying they communicated throughout the season, things have been awkward since Paul left. Paul recently said he hadn’t heard from Lue after the split. When reporters asked Lue about this, he simply replied, “I haven’t heard from him, either.” Both sides appear to be giving each other space right now. Some analysts have criticized the team’s handling of the situation, calling the organization a complete mess.
Lue seems frustrated that the media focused so much on the communication story, especially since he insists their relationship remains strong. He understands Paul’s competitive drive, but the team needs to move forward. “But now, we gotta figure out how to win games,” Lue said.
The Clippers front office has downplayed the idea that one specific incident caused the split. President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank defended Paul’s leadership, saying “Chris has a very good leadership style.” He explained that the separation “didn’t come down to one incident or meeting; it just wasn’t the right fit.”
However, reports suggest there may have been issues with Paul’s behind-the-scenes actions that contributed to his departure. Lue agreed last week, saying the Clippers weren’t a “good fit” for what Paul wanted.
The team is now focused on finding Paul a new team. The 40-year-old guard can be traded starting December 15. The front office plans to trade him rather than waive or buy out his contract. They want to help Paul “find him a new home” where he can finish his career strong.
Published: Dec 11, 2025 03:45 pm