×
Deadspin | Chris Paul feeling at peace after being dumped by Clippers

Deadspin | Chris Paul feeling at peace after being dumped by Clippers

Nov 29, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Chris Paul was stunned to be released by the Los Angeles Clippers in the wee hours of the morning in Atlanta last Wednesday.

But he’s become more surprised that he’s experiencing calmness about the situation as he waits to see if he will continue his 21-season NBA career.

“I’m actually at peace with everything,” Paul told PEOPLE.com on Tuesday. “More than anything, I’m excited about being around and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next.”

The 12-time All-Star was sent packing in a humbling manner as apparent difference of opinions between himself and management simmered. There were reports that Paul and coach Tyronn Lue were not on speaking terms and that Paul’s abrasive style of communicating alienated some players.

The surprise move came after Paul returned to the Clippers – he starred for the franchise from 2011-17 – as a sendoff to his career. He has announced his retirement after the season.

Paul released the initial news of his own departure – “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” he wrote on Instagram – and said he doesn’t lament that decision.

“I don’t regret anything,” Paul says. “I was in Atlanta with a whole bunch of family. It was my last time gonna be playing there. That’s life. The whole thing took on a life of its own, you know? But I’m excited to be back here with my family.”

Paul, 40, sees the chance to be more involved with his family as a blessing.

“Stuff’s been a little crazy in the past few days – to say the least,” Paul said. “But honestly, I’m home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My nephew had a basketball game. My son has a game coming up on the 12th.

“I have never seen my son play a game in person. Not a middle school game, not a high school game. So I’m excited about seeing him play.”

This season, Paul averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games off the bench.

Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists with 12,552 and second in steals with 2,728, trailing only Hall of Famer John Stockton in both categories.

Paul, then with New Orleans, was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, five-time NBA assists champion and six-time steals champion. A member of seven first-team all-defensive teams, he also was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game. Paul was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021 and won Olympic gold medals with the United States in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

He played with New Orleans for six seasons, then was traded to the Clippers in 2011. He later played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and San Antonio Spurs (2024-25).

Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 1,370 (1,314 starts). He has not won an NBA title, getting to the NBA Finals only once, when his Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Chris #Paul #feeling #peace #dumped #Clippers

Akeal Hosein doesn’t quite fit the conventional mould of a PowerPlay bowler.

A left-arm spinner entrusted with the new ball in a format dictated by power-hitters, Hosein has turned that role into an advantage — as he showed in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) emphatic win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

His spell of four for 17 not only broke the back of the MI chase but also underlined his growing influence this season. Having featured just once in the 2023 IPL, Hosein has made rapid strides, with his ability to read surfaces quickly and adapt lengths emerging as his x-factor.

“I’ve been trying to pick the coaches’ and players’ brains on red soil, black soil… what works where,” Hosein said, explaining the homework behind his execution. The key, he added, lies in making quick assessments — understanding pace off the surface, which deliveries grip and which skid — and relaying that information to his fellow bowlers.

Bowling in the PowerPlay, he admitted, comes with inherent risk. With only two fielders outside the circle, margins are thin. But Hosein’s approach is rooted in clarity and courage.

“You know the batters are going to come at you… it’s about being brave,” he said, before revealing a piece of advice from Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies T20 legend who is now a mentor with Kolkata Knight Riders, that has stayed with him. “If you are going to get hit, at least get hit to the two fielders protecting the boundary.”

That clarity of plan — bowl to the field, commit to the delivery — has allowed Hosein to thrive in phases where most spinners are shielded.

If his bowling has been about control, his celebrations have added a touch of theatre. The now-familiar “mask” gesture after wickets, he insisted, carries no deeper meaning.

“Everybody seems to have their own mask. Noor has a mask, a couple of footballers have their masks, so I just chose this one. I just chose this one to be my mask,” Hosein said.

“Nothing too much behind it. It’s just about, you know, celebrating small victories. Whenever you do well, you get a wicket. Whenever your teammates get a wicket as well, you just try to enjoy that moment and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.”

CSK will be hoping for Hosein’s mask celebrations to continue for the remaining season.

Published on Apr 24, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Akeal #Hosein #rewrites #PowerPlay #playbook #Chennai #Super #Kings">MI vs CSK, IPL 2026: Akeal Hosein rewrites PowerPlay playbook with Chennai Super Kings  Akeal Hosein doesn’t quite fit the conventional mould of a PowerPlay bowler.A left-arm spinner entrusted with the new ball in a format dictated by power-hitters, Hosein has turned that role into an advantage — as he showed in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) emphatic win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).His spell of four for 17 not only broke the back of the MI chase but also underlined his growing influence this season. Having featured just once in the 2023 IPL, Hosein has made rapid strides, with his ability to read surfaces quickly and adapt lengths emerging as his x-factor.“I’ve been trying to pick the coaches’ and players’ brains on red soil, black soil… what works where,” Hosein said, explaining the homework behind his execution. The key, he added, lies in making quick assessments — understanding pace off the surface, which deliveries grip and which skid — and relaying that information to his fellow bowlers.Bowling in the PowerPlay, he admitted, comes with inherent risk. With only two fielders outside the circle, margins are thin. But Hosein’s approach is rooted in clarity and courage.“You know the batters are going to come at you… it’s about being brave,” he said, before revealing a piece of advice from Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies T20 legend who is now a mentor with Kolkata Knight Riders, that has stayed with him. “If you are going to get hit, at least get hit to the two fielders protecting the boundary.”That clarity of plan — bowl to the field, commit to the delivery — has allowed Hosein to thrive in phases where most spinners are shielded.If his bowling has been about control, his celebrations have added a touch of theatre. The now-familiar “mask” gesture after wickets, he insisted, carries no deeper meaning.“Everybody seems to have their own mask. Noor has a mask, a couple of footballers have their masks, so I just chose this one. I just chose this one to be my mask,” Hosein said.“Nothing too much behind it. It’s just about, you know, celebrating small victories. Whenever you do well, you get a wicket. Whenever your teammates get a wicket as well, you just try to enjoy that moment and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.”CSK will be hoping for Hosein’s mask celebrations to continue for the remaining season.Published on Apr 24, 2026  #CSK #IPL #Akeal #Hosein #rewrites #PowerPlay #playbook #Chennai #Super #Kings

Deadspin | Reports: Mets recall Ronny Mauricio, signaling IL stint for Francisco Lindor  Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio (0) catches a ground ball as infielder Francisco Lindor (12) watches during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images   Francisco Lindor appears headed to the injured list with a calf strain sustained Wednesday in the New York Mets’ first win in the past 12 games, with Ronny Mauricio getting the call to replace him on the roster.   Mauricio is batting .293 with an OPS of .987 for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.   Lindor was heating up at the plate, but there has been nothing wrong with Mauricio’s swing of late. He belted three home runs on Tuesday night to give him six in 58 at-bats in the minors this season along with five stolen bases and 13 RBIs.  Mauricio, 25, had one hit in four at-bats in a brief stint with the Mets earlier this season.   Lindor had two hits in two at-bats on Wednesday before exiting with calf tightness. He’s batting .226 on the season. But Lindor was settling in over the past nine games with 11 hits in 33 at-bats to raise his average from .188.  Lindor’s injury occurred in Juan Soto’s first game since he went down with a calf injury against the San Francisco Giants on April 3. The Mets lost 12 consecutive games after a 4-4 start with Soto in the lineup and entered Thursday with an 8-16 record.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Reports #Mets #recall #Ronny #Mauricio #signaling #stint #Francisco #LindorFeb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio (0) catches a ground ball as infielder Francisco Lindor (12) watches during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Francisco Lindor appears headed to the injured list with a calf strain sustained Wednesday in the New York Mets’ first win in the past 12 games, with Ronny Mauricio getting the call to replace him on the roster.

Mauricio is batting .293 with an OPS of .987 for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.

Lindor was heating up at the plate, but there has been nothing wrong with Mauricio’s swing of late. He belted three home runs on Tuesday night to give him six in 58 at-bats in the minors this season along with five stolen bases and 13 RBIs.


Mauricio, 25, had one hit in four at-bats in a brief stint with the Mets earlier this season.

Lindor had two hits in two at-bats on Wednesday before exiting with calf tightness. He’s batting .226 on the season. But Lindor was settling in over the past nine games with 11 hits in 33 at-bats to raise his average from .188.

Lindor’s injury occurred in Juan Soto’s first game since he went down with a calf injury against the San Francisco Giants on April 3. The Mets lost 12 consecutive games after a 4-4 start with Soto in the lineup and entered Thursday with an 8-16 record.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reports #Mets #recall #Ronny #Mauricio #signaling #stint #Francisco #Lindor">Deadspin | Reports: Mets recall Ronny Mauricio, signaling IL stint for Francisco Lindor  Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio (0) catches a ground ball as infielder Francisco Lindor (12) watches during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images   Francisco Lindor appears headed to the injured list with a calf strain sustained Wednesday in the New York Mets’ first win in the past 12 games, with Ronny Mauricio getting the call to replace him on the roster.   Mauricio is batting .293 with an OPS of .987 for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.   Lindor was heating up at the plate, but there has been nothing wrong with Mauricio’s swing of late. He belted three home runs on Tuesday night to give him six in 58 at-bats in the minors this season along with five stolen bases and 13 RBIs.  Mauricio, 25, had one hit in four at-bats in a brief stint with the Mets earlier this season.   Lindor had two hits in two at-bats on Wednesday before exiting with calf tightness. He’s batting .226 on the season. But Lindor was settling in over the past nine games with 11 hits in 33 at-bats to raise his average from .188.  Lindor’s injury occurred in Juan Soto’s first game since he went down with a calf injury against the San Francisco Giants on April 3. The Mets lost 12 consecutive games after a 4-4 start with Soto in the lineup and entered Thursday with an 8-16 record.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Reports #Mets #recall #Ronny #Mauricio #signaling #stint #Francisco #Lindor

Post Comment