Lakers' JJ Redick makes cold-blooded Chris Paul admission after retirement announcement

Chris Paul was the center of attention on Saturday, as the Los Angeles Clippers guard made it known that he’s retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who played alongside Paul for four seasons (Clippers), made a cold-blooded admission about Paul following his decision to announce his retirement. 

“I hate saying this: I hope he doesn’t win an NBA championship because that would mean the Clippers win an NBA championship and we don't,” Redick said Saturday. 

“But, to me, he's the ultimate winner. There's a guy that works in the NBA that I've known for almost 20 years now, and we talk about this all the time.”

“There (are) guys that have won championships that I wouldn't say are winning players, and there are guys that have never won a championship that, to me, are the ultimate winners, and that’s who Chris Paul is, he’s the ultimate winner.”

While it makes sense why Redick would rather witness the Lakers hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the year, it was a bit surprising to hear him make the statement publicly. 

Still, it doesn't change the fact that with Paul and Redick representing different franchises in 2025-26, there’s no logical reason for Redick to want Paul to end his career with his first and only NBA title. 

Considering the Clippers boast a lackluster 5-11 record through 16 games and don’t appear to possess a championship DNA, Redick likely won’t have to worry about them being the last team standing in June. 

Contrarily, the Lakers are on the right track during the early portion of Luka Doncic’s first full season with the Lakers, as they’ve won 11 of their first 15 games and are getting healthier in late November.

Even if Paul winds up ringless, though, his remarkable resume (12-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA first team member, and seven All-Defensive first team member, to name a few) suggests he’s unquestionably enjoyed a more impactful career than most. 

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