Suns’ Paul juggles lots of projects, causes off court
Phoenix Suns guard E’Twaun Moore’s description of how Chris Paul plays the game also applies to the way he lives his life.
“What he do is special and something different,” Moore said.
Always involved in ventures, community activities and handling numerous responsibilities beyond playing basketball, Paul is the NBA’s ultimate multitasker.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Suns guard Abdel Nader said. “I don’t even know if the dude sleeps. I asked him the
other day, how much do you sleep at night, because it’s scary how much he does.”
Paul’s recently joined Goalsetter’s Black History Month campaign to have 100 minority youths start bank accounts through its mobile banking app.
“I’ve been trying to do a lot of things for HBCUs, for kids of color as far as financial literacy and all these different things,” Paul said.
He’s also set to launch a documentary series starting Feb. 12 with ESPN Plus and ESPN’s The Undefeated called “Why Not Us: North Carolina Central University Men’s Basketball” as an executive producer along with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith.
North Carolina Central University is an HBCU located in Durham. Paul grew up in Winston-Salem.
“I’m really excited about that,” said Paul, who back in 2008 helped narrate “Black Magic,” an ESPN documentary that took a historic look at basketball at historically Black colleges and universities.
Just a part of Paul’s busy life outside of starring at point guard for the Suns and being president of the National Basketball Players Association.
“It is absolutely insane,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “To be able to have that kind of energy. I can only compare it to my own life. I couldn’t imagine trying to juggle all of that and still do it all at a high level and have the respect of every environment he’s working in, it’s amazing. People are built differently, and he’s built for it.”
And like a good neighbor, Paul is a longstanding spokesperson for State Farm, which launched a new series of commercials last December featuring the NBA veteran.
“Chris has been a tremendous asset for the State Farm brand over the last decade, and we are proud of the work we’ve done together in our advertising and in communities across the country,” said Patty Morris, assistant vice president of marketing at State Farm.
Williams said he has a tough enough time going to the practice facility and back home without getting a ticket on Tatum Boulevard in Paradise Valley, let alone juggle all the duties Paul does.
“He’s got a lot going on,” Williams said.
Paul’s role as president of the NBPA has become even more demanding as he’s represented the players’ union in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic as well as recently discussing plans to have an NBA All-Star game March 7 in Atlanta.
The NBPA and NBA have been in talks about how the game can benefit COVID-19 relief and HBCUs.
“You never know what you’re going to catch him in,” said Suns guard Langston
Galloway about Paul, who wore gear from different HBCUs during Zoom media interviews during the NBA restart in Orlando and continues to do so this season.
“I feel like every time I see him, he’s either on a call with somebody higher up or just trying to figure out what’s the next thing that’s coming up. I think his mind is constantly going. He’s always on different calls trying to make sure the players are good.”
While LeBron James and De’Aaron Fox have spoken out against having an All-Star game amid a pandemic and during a compacted season, Houston Rockets point guard John Wall is supportive of Paul despite also not in favor of playing the game this year.
“I understand what the NBA is doing, and I respect everything that Chris Paul does as our president,” Wall said after Houston’s win Thursday over Memphis. “Whatever decision he comes up with, and what (NBA Commissioner) Adam Silver does — because I feel like those two are great guys that are great leaders for our league.”
Paul was first elected NBPA president in 2013 when he played for the Los Angeles Clippers.
“My role is pretty involved in a lot of things that goes on,” Paul said before the season. “Just communicating with players as much as possible. I think the reason why I got involved, starting back in my third year, was just to sort of understand the business of the game. I’ve had an opportunity to be in a number of the negotiations.”
Paul joked about growing up in North Carolina and playing in the backyard trying to be Michael Jordan, not knowing anything about the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
Now, he has a full understanding of the league ins and outs beyond the game itself.
“As you get older, you realize that it’s a business,” Paul later said. “You take care of your family and everything like that. It’s been an unbelievable learning process for me and I just continue to just soak in as much as I can.”
All his duties aside, being a family man and playing basketball are Paul’s primary roles.
He’s been doing the latter in helping the Suns become a playoff contender in his first season as a Sun. Phoenix is sixth in the West going into Friday’s games. “I’m learning from him every day,” Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker said. “He’s been in every situation that I want to get to. I have the cheat code of being alongside of him, his backcourt mate. From on the court to off the court, just everything he does, I’m a sponge to it.”
Then there commercials.
Like on the court, Paul is highly involved in the process of putting those ads together.
“Chris is very self-aware on set,” Morris said. “When he’s working with seasoned actors on set, he’s trying to listen and absorb to better his performance. When he’s on set with his kids or his teammates, he’s coaching them up just like he does on the court.”
Paul’s work with Goalsetter is part of an initiative for athletes to seek 100 minority youths and donate $40 saving accounts for each kid. Paul is selecting kids from the Club 61 Leadership Alliance in his hometown.
CNBC reported the $40 deposits are FDIC insured as the goal is to reach a million kids. Goalsetter is a Blackowned financial technology company, BET reported.
“He’s always been involved in a lot of stuff that is intentional on making lives better,” Williams said. “That’s the thing that I love about him. It’s not just, let me get involved with this and make some money or let me get involved with this because I don’t have anything else to do. It’s usually something that’s foundationally centered to make someone’s life better.”
are
those
State
Farm