Chris Paul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris Paul

Paul at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
No. 3 – San Antonio Spurs
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1985-05-06) May 6, 1985 (age 40) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
High school	West Forsyth (Clemmons, North Carolina)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Wake Forest (2003–2005)
NBA Draft	2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the New Orleans Hornets
Pro career	2005–present
League	NBA
Career history
2005–2011	New Orleans Hornets
2011–2017	Los Angeles Clippers
2017–2019	Houston Rockets
2019–2020	Oklahoma City Thunder
2020–2023	Phoenix Suns
2023–2024	Golden State Warriors
2024–present	San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
12× NBA All-Star (2008–2016, 2020–2022) NBA All-Star Game MVP (2013) 4× All-NBA First Team (2008, 2012–2014) 5× All-NBA Second Team (2009, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2011, 2022) 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009, 2012–2017) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008, 2011) NBA Rookie of the Year (2006) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2006) 5× NBA assists leader (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022) 6× NBA steals leader (2008, 2009, 2011–2014) NBA 75th Anniversary Team Consensus first-team All-American (2005) First-team All-ACC (2005) Third-team All-ACC (2004) ACC Rookie of the Year (2004) No. 3 retired by Wake Forest Demon Deacons USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2004) First-team Parade All-American (2003) McDonald's All-American (2003) North Carolina Mr. Basketball (2003)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Team competition Gold 2012 London Team competition FIBA World Championship Bronze 2006 Japan Team competition

Chris Paul, also known as "CP3", is an amazing basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Many people think he is one of the best point guards ever!

He has won many awards, including Rookie of the Year and two Olympic gold medals. Chris Paul has also led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times. He has been chosen for 12 NBA All-Star teams and is part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Chris Paul played college basketball at Wake Forest University. He helped his team, the Demon Deacons, reach the number one ranking for the first time ever. In 2005, he was picked fourth in the 2005 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He quickly became one of the league's top players.

Later, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers. With Chris Paul leading the way, the Clippers became known for their exciting, fast-paced games and amazing alley-oop dunks. This earned them the nickname "Lob City."

In 2017, Chris Paul moved to the Houston Rockets. He helped them win a record 65 games in his first season. After playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns, he reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 2021 with the Suns. He then played for the Golden State Warriors and joined the Spurs in 2024.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Chris Paul was born on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He grew up in Lewisville with his older brother, C.J. Paul. His family called him "CP3" because he, his dad, and his brother all have the same first letters in their names.

His dad, who was also an athlete, taught Chris and C.J. basketball and football. They played in many youth leagues. Chris also spent summers working at his grandfather's service station. He learned many important life lessons from his grandfather, who he called his "best friend."

Chris Paul went to West Forsyth High School. In his junior year, he averaged 25 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 steals per game. He helped his team reach the state semifinals.

In his senior year, Chris Paul scored 61 points in one game. He did this to honor his grandfather, who had passed away earlier that year at 61 years old. Chris finished that season with amazing averages: 30.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 6.0 steals per game. He was named a McDonald's All-American and North Carolina's Mr. Basketball.

College Career at Wake Forest

Chris Paul played college basketball at Wake Forest University. In his first year, he set new school records for freshmen in three-point shooting, free throws, assists, and steals. His team made it to the NCAA tournament.

He was named ACC Rookie of the Year. In his second year, Wake Forest was ranked number one in the country for the first time ever. Chris Paul played great games against rivals like North Carolina and Duke.

He decided to leave college early to become a professional player in 2005. In 2013, Wake Forest honored him by retiring his jersey number. He was also added to the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Professional Basketball Journey

New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)

Paul attempts a runner in December 2008.

Chris Paul was picked fourth overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. Because of Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets played many of their early games in Oklahoma City.

In his first season, Chris Paul led all rookies in points, assists, and steals. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He was almost chosen unanimously, meaning almost everyone agreed he was the best rookie!

Becoming a Star (2007–2011)

In the 2007–08 season, Chris Paul was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. He played in front of his home fans in New Orleans. With his leadership, the Hornets had a great season, winning a team-record 56 games.

Chris Paul led the NBA in assists and steals that year. He finished second in voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. In his first playoff game, he scored 35 points. He helped the Hornets win their first playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

Paul speaks with Hornets coach Byron Scott in March 2009.

Before the 2008–09 season, Chris Paul signed a big contract with the Hornets. He set an NBA record by having a steal in 106 games in a row! He often came close to getting a "quadruple-double" (double digits in four different stats).

In the 2009–10 season, Chris Paul had a knee injury and missed some games. The Hornets struggled without him and missed the playoffs. He returned strong in the 2010–11 season. He helped the Hornets make the playoffs again. Even though they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul had some amazing games.

Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)

"Lob City" Era (2011–2012)

In 2011, Chris Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. His arrival made the Clippers a much more exciting team. His teammate Blake Griffin said it "put us on the map."

The team became famous for its fast-paced offense and incredible alley-oop dunks. Chris Paul would often throw the ball high for Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan to dunk. This led to their nickname, "Lob City." Chris Paul was named to the All-NBA First Team, a first for a Clippers player in Los Angeles. The Clippers made the playoffs that year.

Playoff Challenges (2012–2015)

Paul in February 2012

At the 2013 All-Star Game, Chris Paul was named the MVP. He helped the Clippers win a team-record 56 games. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2013–14 season, Chris Paul signed a new contract with the Clippers. Even with a shoulder injury, the team set another record with 57 wins. In the playoffs, he hit a career-high eight three-pointers in one game. But the Clippers were eventually eliminated.

Paul dribbles the ball in November 2013.

In the 2014–15 season, Chris Paul played all 82 games for the first time. He led the league in assists. In the playoffs, he made a game-winning shot against the Spurs. However, the Clippers lost in the next round, even after leading the series 3-1.

Last Seasons with Clippers (2015–2017)

In the 2015–16 season, Chris Paul led the Clippers on a ten-game winning streak. This was impressive because some of his key teammates were injured. Unfortunately, he broke his hand in the playoffs and missed games. The Clippers were eliminated without him.

Paul in 2016

In his last season with the Clippers, 2016–17, Chris Paul missed some games due to injuries. The Clippers lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Houston Rockets (2017–2019)

First Conference Finals (2017–2018)

In 2017, Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets. He wanted to play with superstar guard James Harden. Some people wondered if they could play well together since both liked to control the ball.

But they proved everyone wrong! With Chris Paul and James Harden leading, the Rockets became a top team. They won a team-record 65 games in the 2017–18 season. James Harden also won the MVP Award.

In the playoffs, Chris Paul scored a career-high 41 points in one game. He helped the Rockets reach the NBA Conference Finals for the first time in his career. They faced the Golden State Warriors. Chris Paul got injured late in the series, and the Rockets were eliminated.

Later Season (2018–2019)

Paul in 2018

In 2018, Chris Paul signed a big contract extension with the Rockets. He had some injuries during the 2018–19 season. The Rockets again faced the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs but couldn't win the series.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)

In 2019, Chris Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was a young team that was rebuilding. Many thought he would be traded again quickly. But Chris Paul embraced his role as a leader for the younger players.

He was chosen for his 10th All-Star team. The Thunder surprised many by making the playoffs. They faced his old team, the Houston Rockets. Chris Paul played great, but the Thunder lost in a close Game 7. Many said he had shown he was still one of the best point guards.

Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)

Reaching the Finals (2020–2021)

In 2020, Chris Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He quickly made a big impact. In 2021, he became only the sixth player in NBA history to get 10,000 career assists.

He was chosen for his 11th All-Star team. In the playoffs, he had amazing games with many points and assists. He led the Suns to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. This was also Chris Paul's first time in the Finals! The Suns took a 2-0 lead but eventually lost in six games.

Record Wins (2021–2022)

Paul (right) alongside LeBron James at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game

In 2021, Chris Paul signed a new contract with the Suns. He became the first player ever to have 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in his career. He also moved up to third place on the NBA's all-time assists list.

The Suns had an incredible 2021–22 season, winning a team-record 64 games. Chris Paul continued to have many games with high assists and no turnovers. He broke his right thumb before the All-Star break but returned to help the Suns secure the top spot in the playoffs.

In the playoffs, Chris Paul continued to shine. He set a record for the most field goals made in a playoff game without a miss (14-of-14 shooting). The Suns took a 2-0 lead in their second-round series but lost in seven games.

11,000 Assists (2022–2023)

In October 2022, Chris Paul reached another milestone: 11,000 career assists. He joined only two other players in NBA history to achieve this. He also became the first player with 20,000 points and 11,000 assists.

He continued to have strong performances, including a season-high 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs. In February 2023, he passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time steals list.

Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)

In 2023, Chris Paul was traded to the Golden State Warriors. For the first time in his NBA career, he came off the bench instead of starting every game. This ended his record streak of 1,365 consecutive games started. In January 2024, he fractured his left hand but was expected to return later in the season. He was later waived by the team.

San Antonio Spurs (2024–present)

In July 2024, Chris Paul signed with the San Antonio Spurs. In November, he reached 12,000 career assists, joining only John Stockton and Jason Kidd in this exclusive club. He also passed Jason Kidd for second all-time in career assists.

Playing for Team USA

Paul with Team USA in 2012

Chris Paul has played for the United States national team. In 2006, he helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he helped Team USA win a gold medal. They had a perfect 8-0 record! He also played a key role in winning another gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Player Skills

Chris Paul is 6 feet tall and plays as a point guard. He is known for his amazing skills in passing, stealing, and scoring. He has earned many All-NBA and All-Defensive honors. He has led the NBA in steals a record six times and in assists five times.

He is very good at creating scoring chances for his teammates. He often changes his speed to get past defenders. He is also a great shooter from mid-range. On defense, he is known for his active hands and high effort, making him one of the best defenders.

Off the Court

Chris Paul is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. He has endorsement deals with big companies like Nike and State Farm. For State Farm, he even played a funny fictional twin brother named Cliff Paul in commercials!

He was the president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) from 2013 to 2021. This is the union for NBA players. He played an important role in many decisions for the players.

Chris Paul is also a part-owner of The Soccer Tournament.

Personal Life

Paul answers questions at a youth basketball camp in July 2009.

Chris Paul is married to his college sweetheart, Jada Crawley. They have two children. He is a Baptist and goes to church when he can.

He loves bowling and even owns a team in a professional bowling league! He also hosts events to help charities through his CP3 Foundation. In 2018, he bought a small part of a minor league baseball team in his hometown.

His brother, C.J., also played college basketball. C.J. now works as Chris's personal manager. Chris Paul is also good friends with football player Reggie Bush.

Chris Paul has been a vegan since 2019. He works with companies to promote plant-based foods. In 2022, he earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Winston-Salem State University. In 2023, he published a book called Sixty One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court. It shares stories from his life and career.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2005–06	New Orleans	78	78	36.0	.430	.282	.847	5.1	7.8	2.2	.1	16.1
2006–07	New Orleans	64	64	36.8	.437	.350	.818	4.4	8.9	1.8	.0	17.3
2007–08	New Orleans	80	80	37.6	.488	.369	.851	4.0	11.6*	2.7*	.1	21.1
2008–09	New Orleans	78	78	38.5	.503	.364	.868	5.5	11.0*	2.8*	.1	22.8
2009–10	New Orleans	45	45	38.1	.493	.409	.847	4.2	10.7	2.1	.2	18.7
2010–11	New Orleans	80	80	36.0	.463	.388	.878	4.1	9.8	2.4*	.1	15.9
2011–12	L.A. Clippers	60	60	36.3	.478	.371	.861	3.6	9.1	2.5*	.1	19.8
2012–13	L.A. Clippers	70	70	33.4	.481	.328	.885	3.7	9.7	2.4*	.1	16.9
2013–14	L.A. Clippers	62	62	35.0	.467	.368	.855	4.3	10.7*	2.5*	.1	19.1
2014–15	L.A. Clippers	82	82*	34.8	.485	.398	.900	4.6	10.2*	1.9	.2	19.1
2015–16	L.A. Clippers	74	74	32.7	.462	.371	.896	4.2	10.0	2.1	.2	19.5
2016–17	L.A. Clippers	61	61	31.5	.476	.411	.892	5.0	9.2	2.0	.1	18.1
2017–18	Houston	58	58	31.8	.460	.380	.919	5.4	7.9	1.7	.2	18.6
2018–19	Houston	58	58	32.0	.419	.358	.862	4.6	8.2	2.0	.3	15.6
2019–20	Oklahoma City	70	70	31.5	.489	.365	.907	5.0	6.7	1.6	.2	17.6
2020–21	Phoenix	70	70	31.4	.499	.395	.934*	4.5	8.9	1.4	.3	16.4
2021–22	Phoenix	65	65	32.9	.493	.317	.837	4.4	10.8*	1.9	.3	14.7
2022–23	Phoenix	59	59	32.0	.440	.375	.831	4.3	8.9	1.5	.4	13.9
2023–24	Golden State	58	18	26.4	.441	.371	.827	3.9	6.8	1.2	.1	9.2
Career		1,272	1,232	34.1	.471	.369	.870	4.5	9.4	2.1	.2	17.5
All-Star		11	4	24.8	.525	.468	.857	3.9	11.6	2.4	.0	12.2

Play-in

Playoffs

College

Filmography

Awards and Honors

Paul runs the offense at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

NBA

• 12× NBA All-Star: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022
• 11× All-NBA Team:
  • First Team: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Second Team: 2009, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021
  • Third Team: 2011, 2022
• 9× NBA All-Defensive Team:
  • First Team: 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Second Team: 2008, 2011
• NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award: 2013
• NBA Rookie of the Year: 2006
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2006

College

• First team consensus All-American: 2005
• No. 3 retired by Wake Forest
• 2× All-ACC Team
  • All-ACC First Team: 2005
  • All-ACC Third Team: 2004
• All-ACC Defensive Team: 2004
• All-ACC Freshman Team: 2004
• ACC Rookie of the Year: 2004
• All-ACC Tournament Second Team: 2004

United States national team

Paul with Team USA in 2012

• 2× Olympic gold medalist: 2008, 2012
• FIBA World Championship bronze medalist: 2006
• USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year: 2004

See Also

In Spanish: Chris Paul para niños

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career steals leaders
• List of NBA annual assists leaders
• List of NBA annual steals leaders