Chris Paul opens up on failed Lakers trade after NBA retirement

The former NBA star didn't hold back on the controversial 2011 deal that never materialized.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 9:31pm

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Chris Paul, who recently announced his retirement from the NBA, has spoken out about a failed trade in 2011 that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul revealed that the trade was vetoed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern, who cited concerns about competitive balance in the league. Paul expressed his excitement at the time about the prospect of playing alongside Kobe Bryant, but the deal ultimately fell through.

Why it matters

The failed Lakers trade was a controversial moment in the NBA, as it deprived fans of the opportunity to see two of the league's biggest stars, Paul and Bryant, team up. Paul's comments shed new light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to the trade being nixed, providing insight into the league's decision-making process at the time.

The details

In 2011, Paul was playing for the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans), which was owned by the NBA at the time. A three-team deal was in place that would have sent Paul to the Lakers, but Stern vetoed the trade, citing concerns about competitive balance in the league. Paul said he was "excited" about the prospect of playing with Bryant, but the deal ultimately fell through.

  • In 2011, Paul was included in a three-team deal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Four days after Paul announced his retirement from the NBA in 2026, he made the comments about the failed Lakers trade.

The players

Chris Paul

A former NBA point guard who recently announced his retirement from the league. Paul was close to joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 before the trade was vetoed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Kobe Bryant

An elite scorer who played for the Los Angeles Lakers during his NBA career. Paul expressed excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Bryant if the 2011 trade had gone through.

David Stern

The NBA Commissioner at the time who vetoed the 2011 trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, citing concerns about competitive balance in the league.

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What they’re saying

“Once the lockout ended and we went back to our teams, I got traded to the Lakers. At the time, my team was owned by the NBA. The owner of my team ran out of money. So the NBA took over my team. The NBA was making decisions for my team.”

— Chris Paul

“Next thing you know, the league receded it. I was excited. They said be ready to play the whole year back here, and then it was quiet.”

— Chris Paul

“What happened was a few of the owners of the other teams said we just came out of a lockout and did a new CBA, they said we was all about competitive balance.”

— Chris Paul

The takeaway

Chris Paul's comments shed new light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to the controversial 2011 trade that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers being vetoed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern. The failed deal deprived fans of the opportunity to see two of the league's biggest stars, Paul and Kobe Bryant, team up, and Paul's remarks provide insight into the league's decision-making process at the time.