Chris Paul’s Return: A Look at Star Athletes Who Went Back Home

There`s a unique and often heartwarming allure to sports stars returning to their original teams or “old stomping grounds.” It`s a journey back to where their legacy began, often to conclude a storied career or to make one final push for glory.

Veteran point guard Chris Paul is the latest high-profile athlete to reportedly rejoin his former team. According to ESPN`s Shams Charania, Paul is set to sign with the LA Clippers for what is widely expected to be his 21st and final NBA season. His initial six-year tenure with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 was highly successful, as the team achieved an impressive .658 winning percentage, ranking third in the NBA during that period, tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Over these six seasons, Paul consistently performed at an elite level, averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, leading the Clippers to the playoffs every year.

Paul`s decision to return to the Clippers is not an isolated event in the world of professional sports. Since 2000, numerous other stars across various U.S. leagues have made similar emotional returns to the franchises where they initially rose to prominence. Here`s a look at some of these memorable homecomings:

---

NBA

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

First stint: 2012-2023

Second stint: 2025-present

Selected as the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Damian Lillard burst onto the scene, earning Rookie of the Year honors and subsequently averaging over 20 points in every season that followed. He holds the franchise records for most career points and 3-pointers for the Trail Blazers, and ranks second all-time in assists.

Portland traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023-24 season, where he spent two seasons, averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds. His time in Milwaukee ended abruptly when he tore his Achilles during the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Following this, Milwaukee waived Lillard in July, stretching his remaining contract to facilitate the signing of Myles Turner. This sequence of events paved the way for Lillard to finalize a three-year, $42 million contract, marking his return to the Portland Trail Blazers.

---

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

First stint: 2003-2010

Second stint: 2014-2018

LeBron James began his illustrious NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003. Over his initial seven seasons, he secured back-to-back MVP awards and guided the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007, consistently averaging 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

His widely publicized departure to the Miami Heat in 2010, announced during the ESPN special `The Decision,` was a major turning point. However, four years later, after winning two championships with the Heat, James famously penned an essay announcing his return to Cleveland. He ultimately fulfilled his promise of delivering a championship to the city, leading the Cavaliers to victory over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.

---

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

First stint: 2003-2016

Second stint: 2017-2019

Dwyane Wade solidified his status as one of the league`s premier guards during his initial 13-year stretch with the Miami Heat. Drafted fifth overall in 2003, Wade played a pivotal role in the Heat`s first championship in 2006, where he earned Finals MVP by averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists against the Dallas Mavericks. He was also an integral part of Miami`s “Big Three” alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.

In 2016, Wade departed Miami to sign with his hometown Chicago Bulls. However, in February 2018, the Heat orchestrated a trade to bring their franchise legend back, with Wade subsequently retiring the following year as a Heat player.

---

Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

First stint: 1996-2006

Second stint: 2009-2010

“The Answer” was a dominant force during his initial decade with the 76ers, averaging 28 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. His MVP season in 2001 saw Philadelphia reach the NBA Finals, where they secured Game 1 before ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

Despite becoming a local icon in Philly, Iverson`s first stint ended when he requested a trade and was subsequently dealt to the Denver Nuggets in December 2006. Three years later, with a need for guard depth, the 76ers signed him to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. Iverson played 25 games for Philadelphia that season before retiring from the NBA.

---

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves

First stint: 1995-2007

Second stint: 2014-2016

Before the current Anthony Edwards era, the most successful period for the Minnesota Timberwolves was largely defined by Kevin Garnett. Drafted directly out of high school as the fifth pick in 1995, Garnett evolved into one of the league`s most complete players, averaging 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds during his first run. He won the MVP award in 2004, a distinction he still holds as the only Timberwolves player to achieve it.

After three consecutive seasons missing the playoffs, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster deal in the 2007 offseason, where he won a championship the very next season. Following a trade to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, the Timberwolves reacquired Garnett in February 2015. He played one more season before retiring the following year.

---

NFL

Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders

First stint: 1998-2005

Second stint: 2013-2015

Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson immediately justified his selection as the fourth overall pick in 1998 by the Oakland Raiders, becoming the second-highest drafted defensive player at the time. He swiftly became a four-time Pro Bowl selection, won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and earned first-team All-Pro honors. Woodson also played a crucial role in the franchise`s journey to the Super Bowl in 2002. At 29, Woodson signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2006.

After seven successful seasons in Green Bay, the Heisman winner made his return to play for the Raiders. Woodson played three more years for Oakland before officially retiring in 2016.

---

James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

First stint: 2002, 2004-2012

Second stint: 2014-2017

James Harrison, one of the most remarkable undrafted players in NFL history, established himself as a top linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a key contributor to two Super Bowl-winning teams and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.

He briefly left the Steelers for divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals in 2013 and officially announced his retirement at the Steelers facility on September 5, 2014. However, just weeks later, he signed a deal to return to the franchise. Pittsburgh released him in December 2017, after which he signed with the New England Patriots before retiring for good after that season.

---

Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings

First stint: 1998-2004

Second stint: 2010

Randy Moss electrified the Minnesota Vikings after being drafted 21st overall in the 1998 NFL draft. As a rookie, he led the league with 17 touchdowns and averaged 19 yards per reception, helping the franchise reach its first NFC Championship Game since the 1987 season.

The Vikings traded Moss to the Oakland Raiders in 2005, and the Hall of Fame receiver subsequently played for several other teams before being traded back to Minnesota during the 2010 season. He appeared in only four games before the franchise waived him.

---

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

First stint: 2011-2019

Second stint: 2021

Cam Newton made an immediate impact, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Carolina Panthers. Four years later, he guided the franchise to Super Bowl 50 during his MVP-winning season, remaining the only Carolina player to earn that prestigious award.

His initial tenure with the Panthers concluded as the decade ended. After being released by the franchise in March 2020, Newton signed with the New England Patriots in July of that year. He re-signed with New England the following year but was released before training camp. Newton eventually returned to Carolina in November 2021, starting five games.

---

MLB

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

First stint: 2001-2011

Second stint: 2022

Albert Pujols had an legendary first run with the St. Louis Cardinals, capturing three NL MVP awards and two World Series titles over 10 years. During this period, he consistently batted over .300 with 100 or more RBIs in all but one season.

In 2011, he signed a monumental 10-year, $254 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, then the second-highest in MLB history. The Cardinals notably brought him back before the 2022 campaign, a season that saw Pujols achieve the remarkable feat of becoming only the fourth player to hit 700 career home runs. He retired at the conclusion of that season.

---

Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners

First stint: 2001-2012

Second stint: 2018-2019

Ichiro Suzuki`s debut season with the Seattle Mariners, upon his arrival from Japan, stands as one of baseball`s most impressive. He remains the only player in MLB history to win MVP, Rookie of the Year, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger award in the same season. This set the stage for a career where Ichiro consistently led the majors in hits, though his postseason appearances with the Mariners were limited to just one in 2001.

In July 2012, Seattle traded Ichiro to the New York Yankees following his trade request. He subsequently played for the Yankees and the Miami Marlins before making his return to the Mariners in 2018. He officially retired the following year in Japan after participating in an overseas series against the then-Oakland Athletics.

---

Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners

First stint: 1989-1999

Second stint: 2009-2010

“The Kid” made an almost instantaneous impact in the majors. During his first stint with the Mariners, he earned All-Star honors in all but his rookie season. Griffey hit at least 40 home runs in each of his final four seasons there, including a league-leading 56 in 1997 when he won the AL MVP award.

The Mariners traded him to the Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season, a move that reunited him with his father, Ken Griffey Sr., who was the Reds` bench coach at the time. Griffey Jr. had spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse as his dad played for Cincinnati during his first nine MLB seasons. The Hall of Famer returned to Seattle in 2009, playing two more seasons before his retirement.

---

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

First stint: 2009-2017

Second stint: 2023-present

Andrew McCutchen accumulated numerous accolades during his initial run with the Pittsburgh Pirates, earning five All-Star selections and winning the NL MVP award in 2013. He also secured four Silver Slugger awards during the early 2010s and was instrumental in helping the franchise break its two-decade-long postseason drought.

The Pirates traded McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants in 2018. The outfielder then played for several other teams before making his return to Pittsburgh in 2023.

---

WNBA

DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix Mercury

First stint: 2009-2019

Second stint: 2025-present

After being drafted fifth overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2009 WNBA draft, DeWanna Bonner quickly proved her value, earning three consecutive Sixth Player of the Year awards. In 2012, she had a breakout season, averaging a career-high 20 points per game. Two years later, she celebrated her second championship with the Mercury.

The Connecticut Sun acquired Bonner in a sign-and-trade deal involving three first-round picks in 2020. She signed with the Indiana Fever in 2025, but the franchise opted to waive her during the season, paving the way for Bonner`s return to the Phoenix Mercury.

---

Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun

First stint: 2010-2013

Second stint: 2025

Tina Charles had a dominant initial period in Connecticut, earning All-Star honors every season and being named league MVP in 2012. During this stretch, she averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, helping the Sun reach the conference finals in consecutive seasons.

She then spent her next six seasons with the New York Liberty, followed by stints with four more teams, before making her return to the Connecticut Sun in 2025.

---

NHL

Teemu Selänne, Anaheim Ducks

First stint: 1995-2001

Second stint: 2005-2014

While Teemu Selänne didn`t start his career with the Ducks, joining the club in his fourth NHL season, his initial tenure in Anaheim proved to be the most productive of his career. The Hall of Fame winger recorded four consecutive All-Star campaigns in his first four full seasons with the team. This included the 1998-99 season, where he became the inaugural recipient of the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the NHL`s leading goal scorer.

The then-Mighty Ducks traded Selänne to the San Jose Sharks in 2001, where he played a few seasons before signing with the Colorado Avalanche. Selänne only played one season in Colorado before returning to Anaheim for the 2005-06 season. His comeback proved highly successful; his second stint with the club lasted nine seasons, highlighted by winning a Stanley Cup in 2007.

---

Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders

First stint: 1997-2001

Second stint: 2021-2022

Although Zdeno Chara is most renowned for his 14-season career with the Boston Bruins, the Hall of Fame defenseman notably played both the first and last games of his NHL career with the New York Islanders. Drafted by the Islanders in 1996, Chara appeared in 231 games for New York during his initial four seasons in the league before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2001. In 2021, after nearly two decades away, the 44-year-old Chara signed a one-year deal with the organization that originally drafted him. Chara concluded his playing career at the end of the 2021-22 season, signing a symbolic one-day contract with Boston to officially retire as a Bruin.

---

Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers

First stint: 2001-2006

Second stint: 2013-2019

Roberto Luongo, a distinguished goalkeeper who played 19 seasons in the NHL, spent just over half of his league tenure with the Florida Panthers across two separate periods. His first stint with the club began after he was traded to Florida by the New York Islanders following his rookie season. He evolved from a promising rookie to a stalwart during his time with the Panthers before eventually being traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

Seven and a half seasons later, Luongo returned to Florida in a full-circle moment, being traded back to the club from the Canucks. He would play several more seasons, surpassing 1,000 career games, before ultimately retiring as a Panther in 2019. In 2020, Luongo achieved the honor of becoming the first player in the club`s history to have his number retired.