Christopher Emmanuel Paul, aka Chris Paul, was born on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to a hardworking couple, Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones. His family gave him the nickname “CP3” because his father and brother, C.J. Paul Jr, also shared the same name. After he became a professional player, he decided to honor the family tradition and chose the number three whenever he played. Chris’ grandfather was a former athlete, and when his two grandsons were growing up, he introduced them to basketball and football. Both brothers chose basketball, but only CP3 made it to the NBA after high school.
Chris Paul’s NBA career timeline: How his grandfather’s demise inspired him to become a professional basketball player
Not everyone knows that Chris Paul grew up sweeping floors at his family’s service station, which not only humbled him but also taught him a lot about discipline. At the time when his game was gaining attention in high school, his grandfather, who introduced basketball to him, was murdered at the age of 61, and it changed his life forever. The tragedy became his fuel, and days later, while still in grief, Chris scored 61 points in a high-school game at the age of 17. The youngster scored 61 points, one for every year his grandfather lived, and intentionally missed the final three throws in order to complete his tribute.
