Report: Chris Paul And Jeff Van Gundy Clashed Over Defensive Coverage During Clippers-Mavs Game

The Chris Paul-Los Angeles Clippers divorce has been one of the most eventful separations that the NBA has seen in quite a while. If one insider is to be believed, Paul ruffled the feathers of one veteran assistant coach shortly before he parted ways with the Clippers.

Appearing on “NBA on Prime” last week, Chris B. Haynes was asked by host Taylor Rooks to explain a cryptic post by CP3 just days prior. In this Instagram story, Paul shared the dictionary definition of the word “leeway” (which, for those keeping score at home, means “the amount of freedom to move or act that is available”).

Haynes explained that this post was anything but random, as it supposedly stemmed from an incident that took place during the Clippers-Mavericks game on November 29. Apparently, Paul had approached Leonard during a timeout, as he had observed that the Clippers star was having difficulty keeping up with Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson.

“During that timeout, Chris Paul went to Kawhi Leonard and said, ‘Are you fresh enough? Do you feel good?’...He asked his teammates. ‘Hey, y’all may want to switch this,’ Haynes recalled.

The Clippers did switch up defensive assignments, something that did not escape the attention of assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy. According to Haynes, Van Gundy called Paul to a meeting on the team plane the following day. Van Gundy, a known defensive specialist, asked Paul if he had switched the assignments, and the 12-time All-Star said that he had only “suggested” that adjustment.

At that point, JVG allegedly delivered this message to Paul: “You might have had leeway in other places to be able to change up defensive coverages, but you don’t have that leeway here.”

If Haynes’ report is accurate, Paul’s IG story was a cheeky response to an admonition from an assistant coach, who did not view the Point God’s 21-year pro experience as an adequate reason to get involved in tinkering with defensive assignments.

There are fans who will side with Van Gundy and others who will stand up for CP3 in this situation. However, no matter which individual wins the sympathy vote, the decision has been made: Paul will no longer play for the Clippers, and he’ll have to head elsewhere if he wishes to complete his farewell tour.

Would things have been different if Paul had not approached Leonard or at least consulted with Van Gundy regarding his ideas? No one will know for sure, but it doesn’t appear that Paul and Van Gundy will be exchanging cordial greetings any time soon.