Chris Paul, popularly known by his nickname ‘CP3,’ is an American professional basketball player for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
As a player of great wit, exceptional play, and incredible style, he is unarguably one of the National Basketball Association’s top-ranking stars.
He continues to make groundbreaking achievements and accomplishments.
This article on Chris Paul’s biography facts, childhood, and personal life presents a notable account from his early life to date.
Other highlights include his basketball/NBA career, achievements and awards, famous quotes, plus other on-screen and off-screen facts about his life.
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Table of Contents
Chris Paul Biography Facts & Profile
| Full Name: | Christopher Emmanuel Paul |
|---|---|
| Nickname: | CP3 |
| Born: | May 6, 1985 |
| Age: | 39 years old |
| Place of Birth: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina United States of America |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 6 feet |
| Shoe Size: | 12.5 |
| Weight: | 175 Ibs (79 kg) |
| Education: | West Forsyth High School, Wake Forest University |
| Parents: | Charles Paul (father), Robin Paul (mother) |
| Spouse: | Jada Crawley (married 2011) |
| Children: | Christopher Emmanuel Paul Jr, Camryn Alexis Paul |
| Occupation: | Basketball Player |
| Current Team: | Phoenix Suns |
| Playing Career: | 2005–present |
| Zodiac Sign: | Taurus |
Chris Paul Childhood & Early Life
Christopher Emmanuel Paul was born on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, to his father, Charles Edward Paul, and mother, Robin Jones.
Paul hails from a humble background.
His love for basketball probably stems from his childhood when his father Charles taught both Paul and his brother, named Charles “C.J.” Paul basketball and football.
His father also coached them in various youth leagues.
Chris Paul Basketball Career
High School Basketball
While studying at West Forsyth High school, Paul played in the junior varsity team.
In his junior year, he was instrumental in helping West Forsyth becoming a state semi-finalist.
During the summer, he played for Winston-Salem-based Kappa Magic.
He led the team to the National U-17 AAU title.
Paul was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
While in his senior year, he received national attention after he scored 61 points in a match.
Paul honored his slain 61-year-old grandfather by scoring one point for each year he lived.
At the end of the season, he led the West Forsyth to the Class 4A Eastern Regional Finals.
Thus, he was named a McDonald’s All-American, first-team Parade All-American, and North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer.
College Basketball
Paul set a school freshman record as a freshman in Wake Forest University for three-point percentage, free throws, free throw percentage, assists, and steals.
He helped the West Forest University team qualify for the NCAA tournament and was named ACC Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-ACC.
In his Sophomore Season, Wake Forest was ranked number one for the first time in the school’s history.
In the final game of the season, Paul punched NC State guard Julius Hodge in the groin, resulting in a one-game suspension for the ACC Tournament.
This incident temporarily damaged Paul’s reputation.
The Demon Deacon qualified for the NCAA tournament but lost in the second round to West Virginia Mountaineers.
Paul was named First Team Consensus All-America as a result of his outstanding performance.
He was also named to the ESPN’s Academic All-America Team with a Grade Point Average of 3.21.
On April 15, 2005, Paul announced his decision to go professional.
His jersey was retired by the Demon Deacon on March 2, 2011.
Professional/NBA Career
New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)
Early seasons (2005–2007)
Paul was the fourth overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA draft.
The Hornets played most of their games in Oklahoma City that season as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Paul led all rookies in points, assists, steals, and a double-double, thus becoming the second rookie in NBA rookie to lead the league in total steals.
He was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
He set a new Rookie Challenge record at the 2007 All-Star Weekend with 17 assists and 9 steals.
In his sophomore season, he increased his scoring but played 64 games due to an injury.
Rise to Stardom (2007–2011)
In the 2007-2008 season, Paul was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game, playing in fronting of home fans in New Orleans.
The Hornets were close to the top of the Western Conference throughout the season, occupying first place on March 17 after defeating the Chicago Bulls, behind Paul’s leadership.
Paul led the NBA with 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.
He finished second in the NBA Most Valuable Player Award voting and earned his first place in the first All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
Paul signed a contract extension of $68 million with the Hornets before the start of the 2008-2009 season.
He set an NBA record off consecutive games with a steal at 106 on December 17, 2008.
After a slow start in the 2009-2010 season, coach Bryon Scott was fired.
CP3 caused controversy by declaring his displeasure with the move.
He commented that the team management should have consulted with him and asked how he felt about the move.
Paul tore his cartilage in February of 2010 and was sidelined as a result of surgery, missing the All-Star game.
The Hornets struggled and missed the playoff without Paul.
In the 2010-2011 season, Paul suffered an injury scare after colliding with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions, suffering a concussion and was carried off the court in a stretcher.
He returned to action two games later in a match against the Sacramento Kings.
The Hornets qualified for the playoff, with Paul playing a full season.
The Hornets’ management fearing that Paul could leave, began pursuing a trade that could compensate the team in return for his services.
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
The Hornets agreed to a three-team trade on December 8, 2011, which will see Paul sent off to the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA, the then owners of the franchise canceled the deal.
The teams involved in the trade persuaded the league to reverse its ruling and reconstruct the deal, but this was a dead end.
On December 12, the Hornets agreed to a deal that will see Paul sent off to the Los Angeles Clippers.
As a result of additional demands to the original terms by the NBA, the deal broke down.
Two days later, the teams met the terms of the deal, sending Paul and two future second-round draft off to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ unprotected first-round pick in the 2012 draft.
After the deal’s finalization, Paul declared that he would opt into his contract’s final year and remain in Los Angeles for at least two more sessions.
Playoff Contention (2011–2017)
With the addition of Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team earned a reputation for its fast-paced offense and spectacular alley-oop dunks.
At the end of the season, he became the first Clipper to be named to the All-NBA First Team since moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s.
The Los Angeles Clippers qualified for the playoff behind his play.
Paul led the West to victory with 20-point and 15 assists at the 2013 All-Star Game, earning him the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.
Before starting the 2013–2014 season, Paul re-signed with the Clippers for a five-year deal worth about $107 million.
The LA Clipper set a franchise record of 57 wins despite Paul’s shoulder injury, which saw him sidelined for over a month.
In the 2014–2015 season, Paul played in all 82 games for the first time in his career, reaching an average of 19.1 points and a league peak of 10.2 assists per game.
He led the Clippers on a ten-game winning streak in January of the 2015–2016 season, and for the third consecutive year, he finished the season with averages of over 19 points, 10 assists, and 2 steals per game.
He missed 21 regular-season games as a result of an injury in 2016–2017.
At the end of the season, he was not rewarded with an All-NBA honor, thus marking the second time he failed to make the All-NBA team since 2008 and the first time in his six years as a Clipper.
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
Paul was sent off to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Patrick Beverly, Sam Dekker, Montrezi Harell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Lou Williams, Kyle Wiltjer, a future first-round pick, and cash considerations.
In his debut game for the Rockets, it was realized he was playing through a knee injury.
As a result, he missed the next 14 games.
Paul became the first player in NBA history to post 28 points, eight assists, and 7 steals in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
In the last 10 years, that stat line has been achieved 10 times, of which Paul recorded six.
Paul was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, December 11, through Sunday, December 17.
That was his 13th career Player of the Week honor since his first in January 2016.
On July 8, 2018, Paul signed a four-year $160 million maximum contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–date)
Paul moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder on 16 July 2019 in an exchange trade deal for Russell Westbrook.
He debuted for Thunder in October against Utah Jazz, recording 22 points and 8 rebounds within just 30 minutes of play.
They, however, lost the game.
By December, he recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists against Chicago Bulls, with Thunder winning by 109–106.
By January 2020, Paul was named to the All-Star and Western Conference reserve.
Phoenix Suns (2020–present)
On November 16, 2020, Paul was traded to the Suns.
National Team Career
Paul debuted for the United States national team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.
He helped the team clinch the bronze medal with a tournament peak of 44 assists.
Paul played a notable role off the bench at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, scoring 13 points in a victory against Spain where the US won the gold medal.
He was promoted to the starting point guard at the London 2012 Olympics, where the US nationals were undefeated and bagged the gold medal.
Chris Paul Personal Life
Wife & Children
Paul married his college sweetheart Jada Crawley on September 10, 2011.
They both have two children, Christopher Emmanuel Paul Jr (Born May 23, 2009) and Camryn Alexis Paul (born August 16, 2012).
Trivia
Paul is a Christian and attends church on Sundays.
He loves bowling and owns a franchise in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) League named L.A.X.
Paul has participated in celebrity and youth bowling event.
He is the head of the CP3 Foundation.
Paul owns a minority stake in the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor league basketball team located in his home area.
Paul is a close associate of footballer Reggie Bush.
In August 2013, Paul was elected as president of the National Basketball Players Association.
Chris Paul Achievements & Awards
- 10-time NBA All-Star (2008–2016, 2020)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
- 4-time All-NBA First Team (2008, 2012–2014)
- 4-time All-NBA Second Team (2009, 2015, 2016, 2020)
- All-NBA Third Team (2011)
- 7-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009, 2012–2017)
- 2-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008, 2011)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2006)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2006)
- 4-time NBA assists leader (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015)
- 6-time NBA steals leader (2008, 2009, 2011–2014)
- Consensus first-team All-American (2005)
- First-team All-ACC (2005)
- Third-team All-ACC (2004)
- ACC Rookie of the Year (2004)
- USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2004)
- No. 3 retired by Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- First-team Parade All-American (2003)
- McDonald’s All-American (2003)
- North Carolina Mr. Basketball (2003)
Chris Paul Quotes
“I try to penetrate the lane like Steve Nash, pass like Jason Kidd, and handle the ball like Allen Iverson, Remember, I said ‘try to’.”
— Chris Paul
“Family was
— Chris Paulreal important in putting me on my path. I’m so blessed to come from a home with a mother and father.”
“I always have said that the most valuable thing that I have isn’t money, it’s my time.”
— Chris Paul
“No matter where you put me, I don’t care if it is North Carolina, Florida, California, New York City. I’m going to be who I am.”
— Chris Paul
“You get a chance to live your dream once, and I’m living mine right now.”
— Chris Paul
“Keep
— Chris Paulpracticing . Never let someone tellyou you’re too small or too slow.”
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