Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. Bio
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr., nicknamed “CP3” and “the Point God,” is an American professional basketball player who has spent two decades establishing himself as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Born on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA draft and has since earned 12 NBA All-Star selections, numerous All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors, and two Olympic gold medals. Known for exceptional playmaking ability, leadership, and competitive drive, Paul has been a driving force for every franchise he has joined while amassing career totals exceeding 23,000 points and 12,500 assists. He currently serves as a veteran mentor for the Los Angeles Clippers in his 21st professional season.
Early Life and Background
Paul grew up in Lewisville, North Carolina, as the son of Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones. His father, a former athlete himself, taught Chris and his older brother, Charles “C.J.” Paul Jr., basketball and football while coaching them in various youth leagues throughout their childhoods. The family shared the same initials, which led to Chris receiving the nickname “CP3” alongside his father and brother. A significant figure in Paul’s life was his grandfather, Nathaniel “Papa” Jones, who owned a service station where Chris and C.J. worked during their summers. Paul has described his grandfather as his “best friend” and credited him with many life lessons.
Paul attended West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina, where he played on the junior varsity team during his freshman and sophomore years. His junior year breakthrough saw him average 25 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 steals per game while leading West Forsyth to the state semifinals. During his senior season, Paul scored 61 points in a game, intentionally missing the subsequent free throw to finish with exactly 61 points in honor of his grandfather, who had been murdered only days earlier. He concluded his high school career with averages of 30.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 6.0 steals per game, earning McDonald’s All-American, first-team Parade All-American, and North Carolina Mr. Basketball honors.
Path to Professional Basketball
Paul played two seasons at Wake Forest University from 2003 to 2005, where he quickly made an impact as a freshman by averaging 14.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game while setting school freshman records for three-point percentage, free throws, free throw percentage, assists, and steals. His performance helped the Demon Deacons reach the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen and earned him ACC Rookie of the Year honors. During his sophomore season, Paul led Wake Forest to their first-ever number-one ranking in the nation for two weeks, highlighted by a 26-point, eight-assist performance against rival North Carolina on January 15, 2005.
Despite an incident involving a punch to an opponent that resulted in a one-game suspension, Paul finished his college career as a First Team Consensus All-American with a 3.21 grade point average. He announced his decision to turn professional on April 15, 2005, forgoing his final two years of eligibility. Wake Forest subsequently retired his jersey number 3 in March 2013, and he was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Paul’s college career laid the foundation for his professional success, establishing him as a versatile point guard capable of scoring, distributing, and defending at a high level.
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. Career
New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)
Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA draft. Due to Hurricane Katrina devastation, the Hornets played most of their home games in Oklahoma City during Paul’s first two seasons. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, leading all first-year players in total points, assists, steals, and double-doubles while becoming only the second rookie in NBA history to lead the league in total steals. Paul averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors and falling just one vote shy of a unanimous selection.
Paul’s ascent continued in the 2007-08 season when he earned his first All-Star selection and led the Hornets to a franchise-record 56 wins and the second seed in the Western Conference. He captured the NBA assist title with 11.6 per game and the steals title with 2.7 per game while scoring 21.1 points per game. Paul finished second in Most Valuable Player Award voting that year and earned his first All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selections. In the playoffs, he scored 35 points in his debut against the Dallas Mavericks and set a franchise playoff record with 17 assists in Game 2, helping New Orleans defeat Dallas in five games before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the next round.
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
After a complex series of trade negotiations that initially involved the Los Angeles Lakers before being voided by the NBA, Paul was finally traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on December 14, 2011. The move transformed the Clippers franchise, with teammate Blake Griffin later commenting that Paul’s arrival “put us on the map.” The Clippers developed a reputation for their fast-paced offense and spectacular alley-oop dunks, typically from Paul to Griffin or DeAndre Jordan, earning them the nickname “Lob City.” Paul averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in his debut season, becoming the first Clipper to earn All-NBA First Team honors since the franchise relocated to Los Angeles.
Paul reached the pinnacle of his individual Clippers tenure during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. He won his first NBA All-Star Game MVP Award in 2013 with a 20-point, 15-assist performance and helped the team achieve a franchise-record 56 wins. Despite battling injuries during the 2013-14 season that sidelined him for over a month, Paul re-signed for five years worth approximately $107 million and averaged 19.1 points, 10.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. His playoff performances included a career postseason-high eight three-pointers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2014 second round, though the Clippers were eliminated in six games.
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
On June 28, 2017, Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, and multiple other assets. Partnering with superstar James Harden, Paul helped the Rockets establish themselves as championship contenders. Houston finished the 2017-18 season with a franchise-record 65 wins and the best record in the NBA, with Paul averaging 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. In the playoffs, he scored a career playoff-high 41 points against the Utah Jazz in Game 5 to advance to his first NBA Conference Finals, where the Rockets faced the Golden State Warriors.
Paul signed a four-year, $160 million maximum contract extension in July 2018, making him one of the league’s highest-paid players. However, injuries plagued his second season in Houston, including a left hamstring strain that caused him to miss 17 consecutive games. Despite these setbacks, he recorded 23 points and a season-high 17 assists in a February 2019 win over the Warriors. The Rockets were eliminated in the conference semifinals by Golden State, with Kevin Durant missing the final two games. Following the season, Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a package for Russell Westbrook.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)
For the first time in years, Paul found himself on a young, rebuilding team without championship expectations. Embracing his role as a veteran leader, he earned praise from coach Billy Donovan and was selected to his 10th All-Star Game in January 2020. Paul averaged 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while helping the Thunder exceed preseason expectations. Following the season hiatus due to COVID-19, Oklahoma City finished as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round playoff matchup against Paul’s former team, the Houston Rockets.
In Game 6 of that playoff series, trailing 3-2, Paul scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to force a decisive Game 7. Although the Thunder ultimately lost the series, Sports Illustrated deemed Paul’s tenure a success and noted that he had reestablished himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
On November 16, 2020, Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he reached the NBA Finals for the first time in his career during the 2020-21 season. He recorded his first triple-double of that season on March 21, 2021, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists. In the playoffs, Paul played historic games, including a 37-point performance on 74 percent shooting in a Game 4 sweep of the Denver Nuggets and a 41-point effort in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers. He advanced to his first NBA Finals, where the Suns held a 2-0 series lead before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
Paul signed a four-year extension worth up to $120 million in August 2021 and continued building his legacy in Phoenix. On October 22, he became the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists. He surpassed Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for third place on the NBA all-time career assists list and led the Suns to a franchise-record 64 wins in 2021-22. That season, he became the first player to be part of four teams to set a franchise record for victories in a single season. He recorded 33 points on 14-of-14 shooting in Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks, setting the NBA playoffs record for most field goals made without a miss.
Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs (2023–2025)
On June 24, 2023, the Suns traded Paul to the Washington Wizards as part of a three-team deal for Bradley Beal. Twelve days later, the Wizards sent him to the Golden State Warriors. For the first time in his career, Paul came off the bench on October 29, 2023, ending his NBA-record streak of 1,365 consecutive games started. He averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists per game in his sole season with Golden State before being waived on June 30, 2024.
Paul signed with the San Antonio Spurs on July 7, 2024, motivated by the opportunity for playing time rather than championship pursuits. He recorded his 12,000th career assist on November 15, 2024, joining John Stockton and Jason Kidd as the only players to reach that milestone. He passed Kidd for second place in both career assists and career steals during the season. In the season finale on April 13, Paul became the first player in NBA history to accumulate 23,000 points with at least 12,000 assists while starting all 82 games, marking the first time any player had started every game in their 20th year.
Los Angeles Clippers Return (2025–Present)
On July 21, 2025, Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers for his 21st NBA season. On November 22, he announced on social media that this would be his final professional season. In 16 appearances for Los Angeles, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. On December 3, the Clippers announced they were parting ways with Paul and sent him home. The decision drew widespread criticism, with former Clippers star Blake Griffin expressing concern about the organization’s treatment of Paul. On February 5, 2026, Paul was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal. The Raptors waived him on February 13, and he subsequently announced his retirement from the NBA.
Playing Style and Strengths
Listed at 6 feet 0 inches and weighing 175 pounds, Paul played exclusively as a point guard throughout his career. Regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, he excelled in the half-court game and created scoring opportunities by constantly changing speeds. His ability to penetrate deep into the paint led to easy shots for teammates, and he ranked among the league leaders in assisted three-pointers. Paul maintained an exceptional assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging just 2.4 turnovers per game over his career. As a midrange shooter, he was especially proficient from the right elbow, leading the league in shooting percentage from that area in 2015. Defensively, he frustrated opponents with active hands and high effort, earning nine All-Defensive Team selections.
Notable Achievements and Records
Paul led the NBA in steals a record six times and in assists five times during his career. His numerous accolades include 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA Team honors, and nine All-Defensive Team selections. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, recognizing him among the greatest players in league history. Internationally, Paul helped Team USA win bronze at the 2006 FIBA World Championship before capturing gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. He served as president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021 and was instrumental in the banning of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling following racist remarks in 2014.
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. Career Statistics
Across 21 NBA seasons, Paul established himself among the all-time greats with career totals exceeding 23,000 points, 12,500 assists, and 6,000 rebounds. His career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game reflect remarkable consistency throughout his longevity. He led the league in assists five times and in steals a record six times while earning All-NBA honors 11 times and All-Defensive honors nine times. Paul was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006 and won the All-Star Game MVP Award in 2013.
Career Summary
Paul finished his career with 23,058 total points (16.8 per game), 12,552 assists (9.2 per game), and 6,006 rebounds (4.4 per game). His assist and steals totals rank among the highest in NBA history, trailing only John Stockton in both categories. Paul’s longevity and productivity allowed him to accumulate these numbers while playing for nine different teams, a testament to his adaptability and sustained excellence at the sport’s highest level.
International Competition
Paul represented the United States national team on multiple occasions, beginning with the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, where he recorded a tournament-high 44 assists and helped Team USA win the bronze medal. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he played a key role off the bench, scoring 13 points in the gold medal game victory against Spain as the United States finished with a perfect 8-0 record. He was promoted to the starting point guard position for the 2012 London Olympics, where he averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, capturing another gold medal in an undefeated tournament.
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. Family
Family Background
Paul was raised in Lewisville, North Carolina, by his parents Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones. His father, Charles Sr., was a former athlete who taught Chris and his older brother, Charles “C.J.” Paul Jr., basketball and football while coaching them in youth leagues. The family’s shared initials led to Chris receiving the nickname “CP3” alongside his father and brother. A pivotal figure in Paul’s childhood was his maternal grandfather, Nathaniel “Papa” Jones, who owned a service station where young Chris worked during summers. Paul’s grandfather was murdered in 2004, and Chris honored him by scoring exactly 61 points in a high school game days after the tragedy. Paul was raised Baptist and has described his faith as important to him throughout his life.
Personal Life
Paul married his college sweetheart, Jada Crawley, on September 10, 2011. Together they have two children, and the family resides in a Mediterranean-style mansion in Bel Air, California, which Paul purchased from singer Avril Lavigne for $8.5 million in 2012. Paul graduated from Winston-Salem State University in December 2022, earning his bachelor’s degree in communications. He is a longtime vegan, having adopted the diet in 2019, and serves as a brand ambassador for Beyond Meat. Paul also owns a franchise in the Professional Bowlers Association League called L.A.X. and has hosted numerous youth bowling events through the CP3 Foundation, which benefits programs in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina and charities in Winston-Salem.
His brother, C.J., played college basketball at Hampton University and the University of South Carolina Upstate before becoming Chris’s personal manager. Paul is close friends with former NFL player Reggie Bush, and the two lived in the same New Orleans complex while Bush played for the Saints. Paul is a co-owner of The Soccer Tournament and published his memoir, “Sixty One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court,” in June 2023, recounting his childhood, family relationships, and professional career. Endorsement partnerships with Jordan Brand and State Farm have established Paul among the highest-paid athletes globally.
2025 Season Performance
Paul’s 21st and final NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers was marked by limited opportunities and an abrupt conclusion. Signed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract in July 2025, he appeared in only 16 games, averaging 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 36.2 percent from the field. The veteran point guard struggled to find his rhythm in a reduced role, with the Clippers prioritizing their younger players and long-term development plans. Despite the challenges, Paul maintained his professionalism and mentorship approach in the locker room.
On November 22, Paul announced via social media that the 2025-26 season would be his last, expressing gratitude for his two decades in the NBA. The announcement brought an outpouring of tributes from players, coaches, and fans reflecting on his illustrious career. However, just weeks later on December 3, the Clippers announced they were parting ways with Paul, sending him home for the remainder of the season. The move drew significant criticism, with former Clippers star Blake Griffin publicly questioning the organization’s treatment of Paul and the lack of respect shown to a future Hall of Famer returning to his original team.
On February 5, 2026, Paul was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors waived him on February 13, bringing his storied career to a close. Paul’s legacy as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history is defined by his exceptional playmaking, leadership, and sustained excellence across 21 seasons with nine different franchises. His career totals of over 23,000 points and 12,500 assists place him among the all-time leaders, while his numerous All-Star selections, All-NBA honors, and Olympic gold medals underscore his impact on the game at both professional and international levels.