NBA Star Chris Paul ON: How To Build Resilience & Overcome Societal Pressures

People always going to say something. Always, they're going to try to have. some type of narrative, but as long as. you know what's real, I think that's. what can help you keep your sanity. The best-selling author and host. The number one health and wellness. podcast. On Purpose with Jay Shetty. I want to start off with just setting. context for people. Season's just. finished. You're heading it off into the. playoffs. Like. how do you prepare. at this time? It's a big year. Huge.

start for you. You talk about hard work, work ethic in the book all the time, but. how is this different? Or how do you set. yourself up? Yes, wow. This is my 18th season, right, in the NBA, and it's been. been a lot, right? A lot of good things. have happened, but a lot of unfortunate. bad things have happened. Losses, injuries, and all of this, and it's. crazy. I usually have like this dead. date. Right? Honestly, like we usually have. this dead date with everybody that works. with me, where we'd be like, "Look, Chris will be doing meetings and all.

this stuff until this date, and then we. just lock in." You know what I mean? But. uh doing the book and everything, um. it's been cool, and getting the chance. to do this is is really cool. And so. when you lose at something, right? Like. one like group of athletes I've always. thought about is Olympians. Right? Like. the Olympics happen once every 4 years, right? And if you trip like in that. race, that's it. Yeah. You got 4 years till you can get ready.

for it again. But see, for us, like when. we lost last year in the playoffs, you know, you feel that heartache and. that hurt, and it's like. I can't wait till next year. And now. finally next year is here, you know? So. we got 5, 6 days to get ready for our. first game, but it's it's nothing like. it. Yeah. In the book you said you think. the game. And when I read that, I. thought that was interesting to me. I've. I've sat down with so many athletes on. the show and. behind the scenes as well, but I'd never. really heard anyone say it that way.

What does that mean today? What does. that mean right now? Yeah, that means I. don't Do you do anything? Do you like. play cards at all? I I used to I mean, I. used to play soccer growing up. That was. like my favorite sport growing up. like even if it's soccer, if it's. Connect Four, right? Like I play. dominoes. pong. I play ping pong. ping pong. I play I play any and. everything. In any and everything you. do, you have to have a strategy, right? Whether it's a card game or anything and. you just have to think different layers. You can always play, right? Just play,

but if you can think the game, too. And. so me, like I was up this morning like. soon as I woke up this morning before I. called my kids, I was on YouTube like. looking at clips. Like I go to YouTube. and I'll look at um or I'll go to this. website that'll show me every shot I've. missed or made since I've been in NBA. So like I'm literally always watching, trying to learn, trying to see how I can. get better. So that's what I mean when I. say I think the game. Wow. So you. literally go on YouTube, type in Chris.

Paul misses, and then watch. And then. Chris Paul hits. this website actually called Second. Spectrum Okay. that you can go do that. But I can go on. YouTube and look uh at this particular. game. So we're playing the Clippers in. the playoffs, right? So I can go look on. YouTube. They got everything on there. I'm sure everybody know that, too. But. you can go look at all of my shots that. I played against the Clippers this year. Wow. Yeah. And And you just study. Study it. Study the game. Study who I might be. guarding. Study your opponent and all. this stuff. So then in the game, of.

course, talent and all that stuff, but. at some point you still got to be able. to think and sort of everybody has. tendencies. Yeah. We play 82 games, right? There's certain. things that guys do on a regular basis. So if I can learn that and figure that. out, the better. Yeah, I love that. And. I saw that in your book, too. It's like. it's almost like you're observing. patterns. Right. Like there's all these patterns and. that's what you're saying, like there's. patterns over 82 games, and when you. start spotting the patterns, it's hard. for people to break them, and so they're. going to keep repeating them.

I can't imagine the things that you. learned and all the experiences that. you've had, right? But you know there. are certain things that are staple for. people that that are successful. Yes. Right? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like. you got to work hard, you got to have. some type of discipline, right? Or else. whatever you want to see. come into existence, it's just not going. to happen. It's like they always say. um. what is it? I'd rather be lucky than. good or something like that, but you you. still got to have the work ethic to to.

see it through. Yeah, what have been. your Do you have like a set morning. routine on game days and prep days, or. do you kind of intuitively figure it. out? Like what what are you like? Are. you that disciplined beast that's just. set up to win, or do you feel it out? Uh. good friend of mine, JJ Redick, uh he he. does a podcast now, and he talks He was. my teammate, but he's retired now. Uh. earlier this year he was talking about. how sometimes a routine can drive you. nuts, right? And I had sort of got into that.

mode, cuz I didn't play so long. I. didn't felt like if I don't do this. particular thing, I'm not sure what's. going to happen tonight. You know, Yeah. especially with how many games I play. Like I I I'm serious, I used to have so. much anxiety, like. oh man, if I didn't do this before I run. out on the court, God some injury might. happen. I mean, I used to have this. crazy routine for the past few years, like I would get up, I would eat. breakfast, go to the gym, shoot around. might be at 10:00, I might get there at. 8:15,

do all the stretching, work out, shoot, then go home. I would get body work from. like 11:15, 11:17 till like 1:00, and. then I would lay down, had to be at. 1:00, get up at 3:00, shower, get. dressed, eat, get in the car, go to the. the. You know, it just made for a long day. Honestly, on a game day it was a long. day. And so, I stopped doing necessarily. the body work from 11:15 to 1:00 just to. give me some time to live. Yeah. Honestly. To just be. Maybe like watch a. show for a little bit. When my kids in.

town, chill with them or what not. And. it's actually been like liberating. Yeah. But for so long, you just like, I. got to do this. I got to do that. And. it'll it'll drive you nuts. Yeah. And it. sounds like that's the way of it though, right? Like. the the reason you can take that break. now or what's that show or catch up with. your kids is because of that investment. you put in for like Yeah. 15 years, 16. years For sure. For sure. But you also. realize that sometimes you got to break. up the monotony of that routine or what. not just to.

give yourself a break. Yeah. That I think that's going to help. a lot of people listening because I. think there's so many people listening. right now who. are stuck in their routine and don't. realize how much it can. It'll it'll drive you crazy, especially. in what we do now. There's certain. things like There's certain handshakes. that's got to happen. I like a few. things not going to change, right? Like. uh. when they call our name out for the. starting lineups, I make sure I dap up. all my teammates, then I go to the.

little slant board. I make sure I put my. foot on that three times. I make sure I. get the chalk, rub my hands together, clap them together three times, hit the. back stanchion. I got a lot of routine stuff that I do. I like hit my chest, then I look up and. you know, say what up to Kobe. You know. what I mean? And then we do the jump. ball. Some of that stuff not going to. change. But some of the other things or. what not, you have to look at your. situation and realize. how can you be, I don't know, intentional with your time.

Yeah. Yeah. And do you feel like all of. those things you just mentioned that. aren't going to change, they were things. you picked up along the way because of. wins and Where do those originate from? Yeah. So, it's funny it's funny you. asked that. And being on a team for. all of my life, you know, I've been on a. team since I was 5 years old. And so. when you find these little things, they. sort of just happen, right? So you're. out there with your teammates and. you come up with a handshake and then. somebody like accidentally do something. and then you're like, "Oh, I like that. We're going to keep doing that. We're.

going to keep doing that." So all these. things just sort of get added along the. way. You know what I mean? So like. before. before I leave the locker room, I also do. uh like a one, two, three uh and a bunch. of our team trainers, they they yell it. with me. I do one and they yell two, three, you. know, so that stuff just sort of picks. up and you keep doing it. That's. amazing, man. One of the things that. comes through your book is you talk so. much about hard work, confidence, you. know, seeing your own potential when no.

one else sees it, being able to bet on. yourself, having that confidence. And even today I can tell there's but at. the same time with that confidence, there's this. humility in your book, too, because you. talk so much about the teachers and the. coaches and the mentors and you talk. about this idea about how no one's. really self-made. And so you have this. great balance between this confidence. and this humility. I wonder. what was something that you were. insecure about as a kid? Was there. anything in your life that you weren't. confident about or things that made you.

doubt yourself at all? All types of. things. I mean, I was small, right? Well, some people. will still say I am. You know what I mean? In my profession. I'm small. Yeah. In my profession. But. I mean, I was a little brother, right? So I had my older brother and all his. friends would pick on me. You can't do. this, you can't do that. Uh I played. football. I mean, I was on my AAU basketball team. I think I talk about this in the book. and everybody on my team was on varsity. Except for me, right? And so.

I was a little bit slower, right? Than. some of the other guys. I mean, one of. the most embarrassing things was back. then, our team used to run out for. warm-ups. And back then, like our parents had. chance and all these songs they would. sing and as my teammates, we ran out to. the court, everyone would run and smack. the backboard, right? Everybody pop pop, everybody smacking the backboard. I. couldn't touch the backboard. So, I. would have to run. by the backboard and just get back in.

line. So, I just had this conversation. with my son the other day cuz I told my. son he's going to be vertically. challenged just like me. And so, one of his biggest goals is to be able. to dunk. Right? So, he asked me when did I dunk for the. first time. I was a junior, I think in. high school when I. dunked for the first time. So, he was. like, "I'm going to dunk before that. I'm going to dunk before that." And I. told him I'm cool and fine with that, but I also want him to develop the. actual skills of like playing the game. I feel like so many times now kids just.

want to be able to dunk instead of. learning actually how to play the game. How did How did you make that difference. for yourself growing up? Because I feel. like kids are always kids, right? Like. you grew up watching Jordan and you want. you know, so I feel like everyone who. grows up watching anyone, we all want to. stand that way, imitate, right? And so, how did you stop yourself as an athlete. when you were coming up to refocus just. as you're encouraging little Chris to. do? It was just different and I and I.

say different because. and it may be because of my. circumstances and my situation, right? And seeing my grandfather, right? So, I. saw how my grandfather provided for my. family in so many different ways, especially financially. And. growing up the way I grew up, I always. wanted more. Like I wanted more, not. just like financially, but I wanted to. see things and I wanted my family to see. things. And. I don't know, I've just always been very.

competitive and my brother helped make. me that way. But I just uh. I mean, still to this day, like I really. don't take. no for an answer, right? Like, there's. got to be a way. There's got to be a. solution. And if you tell me I can't do. it, then we going to see about it. You know? And so, it was a it was a. drive about it, and it was a drive to. just want to be better, and the curate. curiosity, and. I don't know. Like I said, it was almost.

subconscious watching my grandfather. work. Right? So, I played football. My coaches were hard. on me, you know? And I just knew if I. wanted to do something, I had to work. Yeah, that work was just obvious through. your grandfather, who just. lived it every day. And I'm you know, when you took. the kids back to see the service station. in the space. That part of the book is. is really special. Because you reminded. me, so I was. I was 9 years old when my dad took me.

back to the home he grew up in. Mhm. And. my dad's home was probably as big His. home was as big as this room. Like, cut. off that part as well. Like, none of. that hallway. So, his whole house was. this big. Mhm. And it was in India where he grew. up. And so, he took me there. And I I. remember like walking outside, there was. a lot of like trash on the floor. There. were like rats running around. There. were cockroaches inside. This big bat. flew on my face. Like, had my Batman.

moment. Like, I was like I was like this. 9-year-old kid, and this bat flew in my. face, and it was disgusting. My dad put. it out of my eyes. And then we went in. this house, and it was literally this. big. And I remember my dad was telling me how. they shared like a toilet with like 30. families. Like, he grew up in like, you. know, immense poverty. And it was just. one of the best experiences of my life. going there as a 9-year-old. So, when I. was reading about you taking your kids. back to your grandpa's service station. in the space you grew up, I was like, I. know how formative that's been for me. Walk us through what what their reaction. was and.

Yeah. your reasoning actually. Everything that you just said is so. valid and if I be if I'm going to be. very honest like. when you're a kid. you only know what you know, right? And. so the times that something was going on. and I seen my grandfather pull that wad. of money out his pocket. I used to start tripping. That's a lot. of money to me, to anybody. And so. like as a kid you want things. I mean. when we was in the car and we went to. McDonald's or something, right? Or say.

you went to Wendy's. I don't care where. you went. Like if you went to Wendy's we. want the biggie size fries, right? Like. we want the extra large fries and the. extra large soda. We couldn't do that. You know what I'm. saying? Like my parents just wasn't. doing it because we didn't have the the. money to do it. And as a kid I watched. movies, too. Did you ever see Richie. Rich? Yeah, of course. Yeah. Right? So you see Richie Rich, you see. that movie uh what was it? Blank Check? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like as a kid it's.

like damn, I'm trying to see what that. be like. Yeah. Right? And so of course you want. things. You want uh things, but. the biggest thing that I learned is when. I got to the NBA, right? And you can get. those things, they don't complete you at. all. Like they don't. But what you start. to realize is that with the money and. the finance at times you have an. opportunity to change other people's. lives. Mhm. So that's when the work really just. sets in. It's like all right, I want to. keep working cuz I want to keep. providing and helping others or not. So.

when it came to my kids. they live a totally different life than. me and my wife ever did. Right? And so. this is so crazy. Like I'm I'm picturing. these real conversations that I have. with my kids because for me. and my wife like. I wanted something different for my. parents, right? And the hardest thing is. trying to figure out how to get my kids. motivated because. they can't get me and my wife a new. house. Yeah. You know what I mean? They.

just can't. And so it's constantly just. making sure that they have their own. motivation. What's going to motivate. them? So I wanted them to see. why I am the way I am. Cuz sometimes. they just see mom and dad or they just. see me, but they got a chance to really. go see. why I get mad if the trash ain't taken. out. You know, because growing up I was. having to cut the grass, we were having. to. fold clothes, wash clothes, do all these. different type things. So that's one of. the challenges as a parent of how do you.

instill some of these things in your. kids? Yeah, and it throughout the book you see. just how conscious and intentional you. are about the kids. And again, I think. there's this healthy balance where like. there's a lot of love for them and you. get that. It's not their fault that they. didn't have that experience. Yeah, but at the same time you want to. help them. And I think that. it's it's such a it's such a hard. balance to do, but it sounds like. because you and Jaden are taking it so. thoughtfully and intentionally that I. I just see it all the time. Like the.

amount of celebrity kids who also feel. the pressure A to be like their parents. in their field. That's already a. pressure. Second of all, there's a. feeling which I don't think a lot of. people realize, but there's a lot of. feeling of guilt for kids to be like, well, I didn't deserve this or my. friends don't have this or like I didn't. do it. And then on the other side, which. you get is the entitlement as well. So. so it's such a it's so much to deal. with. It's so much that goes into it, man. And. I think the the only thing for us.

that we've always tried to do is at. least communicate with them and don't. make them guess or try to figure it out. on their own. And even though I'm here. somewhat giving advice or whatnot or. talking about my memoir, I'm always. looking for advice. Some of the people. that I've looked to as mentors or. whatnot, most of our conversations have. been on parenting because this thing. don't come with a manual. You know, it. doesn't and I'm constantly learning, adapting, trying to adjust because kids.

um. for sure will. will will like test you, you know, and I. think it's been the best test that I've. ever had cuz they show you how to love. unconditionally and uh. it's the it's the it's the best ride. Yeah, the part in the book that that. really got me was when you're because I. don't have kids yet and me and my wife. have been together for around 10 years. now and we moved from London to New York. to LA and now we live in LA, but the. last 7 years have been moving around and.

you know, in our own way obviously, I'm. not moving how you are, but but still. kind of that feeling of not having a. home. Now we know we're living in LA and. we're we're happy there, but. I often think about like. how my kids will have a different life. to the life I had even in. So that the point I'm picking out of. your book is when you're leaving LA. and you're talking to little Chris about. it and he's really upset about it like. cuz he's made his friends and he's going. to miss him and and and you can relate.

to that as a kid. It doesn't matter who. your dad is. It's like as a kid it's. like your friends are everything. You're. scared about what it's going to be like. going to a new school. I think that's. when you're moving from LA to Houston. Yeah. And and you're just you're feeling. this discomfort and I love what you say. to him where you're like I need you. Yeah. And I thought that was amazing to. hear a dad say like I need you. It. wasn't like you need to do this for me. or you got to, you know, just just fix. up and be be strong and man up and how.

did how did you recognize that that was. the conversation? I'm very visual so even when as you're. talking to me like I'm envisioning when. it happened. Like we were in my office. in my house in Calabasas and I'll never. forget his face, ever. It was tough and like I said, I grew up. around the same friends. Right? Like me. and my brother got a group chat with our. homies back home that we grew up with. and that is. probably one of the coolest things about. my childhood. Whereas I know to each his.

own. Some people moved around a lot and. it gave them the ability to. uh be flexible to different cultures and. this and that, but it was cool having a. home base. And so. when we left and Chris said that it was. hard. It was really hard, which why. which is why we ultimately made the. decision when we went from Houston to. OKC to let them stay in LA. And. it's always going to be hard. That's. what you understand is that there's no. perfect life, there's no perfect family. because in trying to give them.

stability, now last 4 years I've been without them. You know, so I think what always ends up. happening is somebody got to sacrifice. Right? And if anybody going to sacrifice. as far as my family go, I'm going to. make sure it's me. You know, and that's. that's how we got to where we are now. Yeah, and how do how do you stay strong. in that time because. I get that too. Like my wife and I end. up spending a bit of time apart every. year as well because. uh family both of our families are from. London and they live in London and our.

niece and nephew are there, our sisters. are there. So my wife misses family a. lot and her family's like uh her like. fuel. Right. And so we end up spending. quite a few months apart every year and. I wonder how do you stay strong? How do. you. kind of like what do you work on to make. sure that you're filled up as well. because like you said it's a sacrifice, but at the same time you have to take. you have to be the. Man, I'm looking for tips and advice. every day. I'm telling you it's it's so. hard and I and I tell you I think the. the.

the biggest thing that I try to do is. make sure that I'm not not too emotional. in front of in front of my kids. right? Because. uh my kids are are special. Like my my. son is so like thoughtful, you know, and. my daughter is the same way. And. it's so different. Right? My childhood. was my dad was coach and all that. My. mom was team mom. So my parents never. missed anything.

I think probably one of the coolest. interactions was we played in LA maybe. like a week and a half 2 weeks ago and. my family came to the game and my kids. were standing outside the locker room. and I had no clue they did this, but. when a few of my teammates left, they. saw my daughter and they was like, "Cam, we be watching your baseball games. We. be watching your basketball games.". Because. because I can't be there. I'll literally be in the locker room. before game. My iPad is set up. My wife. is videoing the game and I'm doing my.

stretches and exercises before the game. and anybody that's in the locker room, they can hear. they can hear my daughter's game going. on. So to see. uh my wife told me how much my daughter. like she just lit up knowing, you know, that I'm I'm not there physically, but. I'm always you know, at least watching. and trying to when I can. I feel like. kids feel that presence, you know, I. always felt like my parents didn't have. a lot of time for me. They were both. immigrants working hard trying to put.

food on the table, but I always felt. their presence because when I was with. them or see me there was a real. connection there. Yeah. And I didn't need like 8 hours a day, 10. hours. I didn't have that luxury. They. didn't have that luxury. But even if it. was for those couple of hours every day. I say that all the time, man. I'm I'm so. aware and conscious that like kids, my. kids now 13 and 10. They're very smart. They're very aware that if you was to. get them a gift, say you're a big time. person or something and you get them a.

gift and somebody works for you got them. to give. Your kids, you can't fool them, you know, but they would much rather. have that time. So, when I'm in town or. whatnot, if I get a day off and I go home, the. best time for me is taking my kids to. school, right? That 20-25 minute drive. to school and then even the fact that my. daughter still lets me walk her in, those I think are the most priceless. moments because. one thing that I learned during. quarantine. was that was the first year that I lived.

away from my family, right? I was in. Oklahoma and then. the shutdown happened and we all went. home for a while. And it was just crazy. because even though my kids might be. doing their own thing, they felt comfort in I was like on Zoom. trying to set up the bubble, right? Cuz. I was the union president at the time, but they felt comfort in doing their own. thing, but they knew if they looked out. the side of their eye that they could. see me in my office, right? So, just the awareness you might. not necessarily be right there next to.

them all the time, but just the fact. that they know you're there. Yeah. Yeah, well said. Well said. And going back to. one of your rituals, I was just thinking. about this, you said you write can't. give up now on your shoes before you. before you got to play a game and I was. I was thinking like, what is that, you. know, 18 years is a long time to. dedicate professionally and then what to. speak of all the prep and and everything. else that goes into it? But what does it. feel like. to get traded, to feel down and out, to.

feel like it's not going in the. direction you want and then to can't. give up now? Yeah. Like, I find that. that kind of pivot. for some people it breaks them and for. some people it makes them. And for you, any sort of pivots have only taken you. further and further and further for you. to perform and pursue at a higher level. What is that? Because I think people. look at you and even when I read your. book, I was just thinking. you're working really hard at. basketball. You're really working hard. at your family. You're working hard at. being dad. I'm like, this guy works hard. on every area of his life. Like there's.

not So. you're trying to. Yeah, I respect that. You don't come across as you're. perfecting it, but there's this energy. of like I'm thinking about how I'm. raising my kids. I'm thinking about my. family relationship. But then. when the career part is having its. hiccups and slip-ups and whatever else. in the past, what did you find when you. get that can't give up now? Like where. does that come from? So I tell you what I came from was when. I got traded from Houston to OKC, like. to be I I was mad. Like really mad.

because I've been told one thing and. another thing happened. And when I went. to Houston, I'm we moved like 15 people. to Houston. Right? So. to not know and to know that I was going. to Oklahoma City, I was hot. I was in. Augusta, Georgia. And I didn't know what that meant. Right? I didn't know what that meant. I. didn't know what was next. It was the. first time I've been blindsided. I. thought it was something There's a song. about Mary Mary, right? It's called. can't give up now cuz like I said in the.

book, I grew up in church. I was in. church four or five days a week. And I. remember listening to that song and like. getting emotional and it was like, look, the trade didn't happen. ESPN and. everybody talking about it or whatnot. I learned this a while ago in the league. is that ain't nobody going to feel sorry. for you. And like you said, I've learned. that too in this business that there's. two different type of people. People who going to feel bad for. themselves and just sulk. And then. there's other people who going to get to. work. And so that was my that was my.

mindset. It was like, all right, I think. I'm done. All right, cool. I got I. put my head down and do the work. And so. that was, you know, my whole energy. going into that. Yeah. How how do you. differentiate between. what the media is building as a. narrative versus your narrative? Like. how do you I find like athletes. that's what makes the athletes job a. million times harder than even playing. the game. Yeah. Especially now with. social media where there's so much. chatter, so much conversation. How do.

you keep your focus around this is. reality and that's just noise? you said that because I learned. something about myself. even a few years ago. I can't have that clutter. Right? And when I played back in LA, I. think I said this in the book too with. the Clippers Doc Rivers, he used to talk. about uh getting rid of the clutter. Right? So when you get home from a game, if your team lose, everybody that's with. your family and all that, what they. going to do? If y'all lost the game, what they going. to say? Yeah. Uh hope you're okay.

else's fault. Right? Like if you lose a game and you. get home, everybody in your family going. they going to be like, uh this person. wasn't doing that, that person wasn't. doing that. They ain't never going to. say nothing about you. Right? And so. that's literally clutter. Right? And the. same thing I learned years ago in the. playoffs, like in the playoffs you got. to win four games out of seven. Right? And I don't care what anybody. says about social media or whatnot, but. if you win a game in the playoffs and.

you go on the social media and you had a. great game and everybody talking about. you like you the best thing since pants. with pockets, then you might let your. guard down. Right? And the same thing if. you don't have a good game and you go. out there and everybody's talking about. how sorry you are, you might lose a. little bit of confidence. So for me, I. try to block out all of that noise. Mhm. You know what I mean? So that's like. when the playoffs start, I don't want to. see what ESPN talking about, I don't. want to see what Bleacher I don't want. to see what none of them talking about.

because you got to just stay locked in. and stay focused. And as long as you. know what's true. you know what I mean? Yeah. People. always going to say something. Always they going to try to have some. type of narrative or whatnot, but as. long as you know what's real, I I that's. what can help you keep your sanity. Yeah, and I think that's one of the. hardest skills for anyone, let alone. someone who a lot of people in the world. are talking about. Like that's. you know, I can imagine that affects. kids today. I'm sure kids feel it at. school and you see that with them at.

school. Like. And see this is the thing I tell you and. I'm not a parent, coach, anything like. that. I can only tell you my experience, but. what I've learned with social media with. kids, right? And having a 13 and a. 10-year-old is that. when I was growing up if a girl didn't. like you or something like that, you. dealt with it at school. Right? Once you went home, you didn't. have to deal with it. Right? You You. just saw her at school the next day. Now. with phones and. social media and all that, one thing I.

know is that these kids are dealing with. things all day long, right? It could be. on Snapchat, it could be on Instagram or. whatnot. And if I us as adults, if we. can't handle that mental capacity, like. I said, I can't handle that. Like I'm on. Instagram, but I'll go weeks without. even looking at it. You know what I. mean? Just because. I feel like, you know, with our stories. and stuff like that now, we ask people. how how they doing. We already know what. the hell they didn't did for the last 3. weeks. You know what I mean? So, that's just.

me. Yeah. Yeah, there's. I I want to I want to shift here because. there's what I found was. really special as someone who was. reading your book and and just again, like I said, learning so much about you. It was like you said that your grandpa. you know, you stay encourage you to. listen to obituaries. And when they came. on and you'd he'd he'd tell you more. about that person, too. Like he had this. amazing memory. though. I ain't going to say. It was It was weird and kind of strange.

because. like it wasn't no like iPhones where the. alarm went off and he knew to do it. It's like everybody would be working and. my granddaddy would just be like, "Cut. on obituaries.". And soon as somebody hit the little. radio player, the song would be playing. It's like kind of morbid. And they would. just start naming off the people who had. died. Right? And I mean, everybody out. there working and you might hear Mr. Ulysses or Bo or somebody say, "Oh, such.

and such died." You know, they didn't. know. And my granddad might start talking. about one of them, but cuz I talked. about my grandmother dying when I was 7. That was my first time, you know, being faced with death. And. then, it's crazy. It was a funeral home. in our hometown called Russell's Funeral. Home. Like once every like 2 weeks or. whatnot, they would bring their fleet of. cars up to the service station cuz they. had like a. It's crazy to think about it now. They. had a business account, right, with my.

granddad's service station. And so, just It was a lot, man. I had That's why. I ain't I still don't deal with death. well. You know what I mean? To see the. the hearses pulling there and. I don't know. It was It was different. Yeah, it's it's You said that with your. grandmother's passing, you're like, "I. never really got over that." Like and I. think that's. That's so real for for so many people. But like you said, like people often say. like, "Oh, I know how you feel." But no. one can know how you feel cuz they. didn't know that person. They didn't. know your connection to them, that.

experience. Like. you you dealt with that so early on at. 7. And like you said, you didn't you never. really got got over it. Now when you. look back on it, is it something you. even want to get over or is it something. that just stays with you and it's. important to you? it just stays with me cuz um. I tell you, like writing this book was. also like therapeutic cuz some of the. stuff I had never talked about. And so, might have been a week or two ago, I was. talking to my parents and was just. asking them. Like I was like, "Dad, I.

was like, when was the first time you. dealt with death?" Right? Because my. kids are 13 and 10, and they have it. Right? The only person I think that. they've seen pass away, like I would, is. um. my my wife's grandmother. Right? And so, obviously, the less you have to deal. with death, the better. But, I mean, as soon as I go to a funeral, right? All those emotions from when I was 7,

you know, they they come right back. They come right back. And there's. something about the closure aspect of. it, and somebody not being there. anymore. I'll tell you something really. cool. My dad, when I grew up as a kid, videoed everything. Every one of my. games was VHS, all of that. My dad uh. found a bunch of those tapes, and he had. them converted into DVDs. And so, recently, maybe like 3 weeks ago, he sent the DVDs to me. He hadn't even.

watched them. And I put one of the DVDs. in, and I was watching it, and we used. to have events all the time at this. place up the street from our house. And. I was looking at the video, and I was. like, "What is this?" And I kept. watching it for a while, and my granddad. walked in. It was actually a video from. his 60th birthday. Right? Literally, just 3 weeks ago, came. across this. And um it was like emotional watching. it. And I started filming some of it, cuz uh I hadn't heard my granddad's. voice in shh over 20 years, since since.

he passed away. I took a video of it, and I put it in our family group chat. My mom called me. She pulled over to the. side of the road, and she was crying. Because you don't you don't think about. stuff like that. You know what I mean? My kids, they know the story of my. grandfather. They know all of that. But, they'd never heard his voice. My wife, I. didn't know she had never heard his. voice. Right? So, to to have this. footage now, and my brother talked. wishing him happy birthday, and I'm.

anxiously watching. I'm like, man, where. am I? Where am I? Cuz you see everybody. setting up and then you see somebody. say, all right, everybody be quiet. He's. about to walk in cuz it was like a. surprise. And so when I heard somebody say that, I. was like, oh, I must be bringing him in. to surprise cuz we used to be together. all the time. And then he walks in and. then I don't see myself. I'm like, where. am I in this video? And as my brother's giving his happy. birthday speech to my granddad, he says. if Chris was here,

he would have said the same thing. And then I I like just this whole. feeling came over me. cuz I wasn't there. And I called my mom. I was like, Mom, where was I? Where. where was I? And she was like, you had. to be at the AAU tournament. And so it. was crazy. Like I was getting emotional. again cuz I was like, damn, that's sort. of been the story story of my life is. missing stuff. You know what I mean? But. is it's crazy. Like I said, death and. all this stuff, you just you never get. over it. And you're not reminded of it.

until you. you face with it again. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that story, man. I mean, that's like the. Ooh, I mean, to be to be reminded of. being absent because you're pursuing. your dream, but then, you know, the the. stuff, like you said, sacrifice. You. said some something has to be. sacrificed, but I can't imagine what it. felt like to, you know, reconnect back. with that memory through finding it. amazing tape, but then Right. Especially. at this time with the book Especially at. this time with the book coming out to to.

finally see that that was uh that was. really cool. And I think I mean, I got. my little cousin AJ and Tacoria who like. 29 and. 27, they had never heard AJ had, but. they were kids or whatever when he died, so they hadn't heard anything. Yeah. Yeah. What what do you think was a. lesson. There's so many lessons in the book that. you learned from your grandpa and that. that I you know, I think people should. read the book for that to learn the. depth of it, but what's the lesson that. you think you carry in your heart the.

most that stays with you right now till. this day that you feel lives with you? Man, it it sounds so generic, but I say. the work ethic, right? But it's crazy. because. I could sit here and say you got to. work, you got to work, it's the work. ethic, but I'll also say it's the. balance because it's the one thing that. I also learned about my family and my. mom said this and I never even thought. about this aspect of it was that my. grandfather worked so hard and I think I. said this in the book that that was all.

he knew. So, he never actually. I don't want to say enjoyed our family, but he never like went on vacation, you. know what I mean? And I'm not saying. you got to go to another country or. something like that, but just try to. make sure that there's balance and make. sure that. of course, you got to work work work to. provide, but make sure at some point you. take some time to enjoy the people. around you and your family because my. mom said that the the one time.

that my granddad actually went on. vacation was when my grandmother was. about to pass away. And so, it wasn't until. he seen that he was going to lose my. grandmother that he was like, "Okay, I. need to to do something with her." Yeah, and you and you talk about how like he. used to finish work at like 7:00 a.m. to. 7:30 and then he started ending at 6:00. Yep. And he was saying like to some. people that may not be a big thing, but. to you and your family that was huge. That was huge. Because all you saw him. do was work. All we saw him All we saw. him do was work and when my grandmother.

died, is when. anywhere he went, I tried to go with. him. I tried to go with him. And it's. it's tough, man. Like I. like I keep saying, my mom is. unbelievable cuz. I mean, I'll be 38 in a few weeks and I. still got mom and dad. And it's not till. I got older and I started like I was. like, man, mom, you lost mom. and dad, you know, so I can't imagine.

that. Yeah. Yeah. And how do how did. they process it? Cuz you say in the book. like how, you know, we don't always do. therapy, we don't always talk about it. Like have you helped them. with their grief while you help yours? Do you find that useful as a family to. connect or is it. You know, it's crazy. I don't think my. parents have read the book yet. I'm so. excited for them to read it. I want them. to read the book, but I also want them. to listen to the audio book cuz I did. the audio book so they can actually hear. my voice. And I think when they read it. they probably going to learn some stuff. about me that they probably don't know.

And I know my my family is extremely. emotional and a lot of times we're all. working. We're all on the move. We're. all on the go, but uh I think it's going. to be something cool to talk about once. they read it. Yeah. What do you think's. going to shock them the most or surprise. them the most or or something you think. that they're going to be maybe even. Is there anything that would make them. uneasy? What do you think would. don't think anything's going to be. uneasy. Some of it probably be funny. Cuz I talk about some of me and my. brothers like childhood growing up, my.

parents never talking to us about sex, all this different type stuff, but uh. it's um. it's going to be real cool and I think. they'll probably. I mean, I try to tell my parents how. much I appreciate them all the time, but. hopefully they get more of a feeling of. that through the book, too. Yeah. Do you. think you were talking about the hard. work and the balance and it's such a. it's something that I think all of us. who are. ambitious or obsessed with figuring out, right? You want to put everything into the. thing you love, the thing you were born.

to do, and at the same time you realize. it's meaningless if. the family, the relationship, the. friendships aren't there, right? We. always hear the term like no one wants. to be lonely at the top or it is lonely. at the top. And so, do you think that that makes you. sacrifice success or do you think that. is success is to be able to have both? It depends. It depends. If you can have. both, then. that's probably the ultimate goal, right? To have both, to have that. success and have that balance. But the.

thing that I'm always battling with, right, is that 18 years of my life I've. been. in the NBA. And that is a blessing, right? I want to be there. I want to be. there for my kids' events. I want to be. a dad just like my dad was to me because. I'm not where I'm at without my dad sort. of cultivating that and and being there. And then there's this other side of it, too, where is if I was to retire, right, and stop playing knowing that I still.

got a lot left in the tank and still got. the passion and whatnot, would I be this amazing dad that I want. to be. if I. gave up my own passion? Mhm. Right? Mhm. So that's the the hard decision. That's. the hard decision that. everyone has to make all the time. And I. constantly have those conversations with. my kids and my wife about it. And. you know, we ultimately sort of decided. that they wouldn't like the person. that's at home if I stopped playing.

prematurely. Yeah, that's so real, man. I think that's like the. that's that's the biggest realization is. like how if you're not living your. purpose, the person you become is like a figment, like a little tiny piece of who you. really are. And then everyone's getting. that leftover version of you. Exactly. And so it's it's crazy. You. just never know. It's. you know, that time, you know, you you. won't get that time back. It ain't like. you can stop playing and then call the.

NBA in 4 or 5 years be like, "Yo, pick. me back up." You know, but also you. don't get that time back with the kids. So you. it's what we're all trying to figure. out. Yeah. If you were in that tape, if you. were there at that birthday, what would you have said? Oh, man. I'm sure there's a tape somewhere from. one of those other birthdays, but I know. I would have just talked about how my. granddad was my best friend, you know, and how I was happy for him to be there, and I probably would have said something. about him not having his teeth in. You.

know, in that video in the video that I. seen of him, he didn't have his teeth in. his mouth, so as soon as I seen him walk. in and his whole face was closed up, I. was like, "Oh, where is my granddaddy. teeth at?" But, um. I don't know. And it was crazy for me. because, like I said, I'm watching this. video not knowing what it is, and then. when I see it's his 60th birthday, knowing that he died literally the next. year at 61, it was uh it was crazy. So, I would have definitely just told him, you know, how much I love and appreciate. him, and probably try to get him to move.

in with us again. Mhm. What what do you. think is the lesson that if he was here. with us today that he'd still want you. to learn or something he'd be poking at. you at for or. Oh, man. What do you think he'd be. coaching you on right now? Probably all the texts that I get, my. temper. Oh, yeah. Probably. But, um. I don't know. I think the biggest thing. that my granddad would be proud of, if. he was still here, was just that our. family is still together. You know what I mean? I think that's the. biggest thing that he'd be proud of.

because he had uh he had my mom and he. had my Aunt Rhonda, right? And so, the fact that even in LA, that's where. my wife and kids live, where my brother. lives, that's where my Aunt Rhonda's. kids, AJ and Coya, live. Like, all the. holidays, we all still get together, even after all this time, and uh I think. that's what he'd be most proud of. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's like you're when I'm. reading the book, I had the.

the bird's-eye view note of what had. happened in your experience, but then to. read it and to get the the real context. of the depth of your relationship. with your grandpa, which. then when you read about what happens, you're like. you know, that that like it gets it gets. you, right? Like it gets me. I wasn't. close with my granddad at all. Mhm. Um. I never I barely met my dad's dad and I. was never really that close to my mom's. dad and so I didn't I don't have I can't. even say I know how you feel because I. don't even have that context, but I felt.

close to your relationship with your. granddad because of how you described. him. And then I mean there's there's no words. to describe it for it to happen just in. the most tragic way that you could lose. someone you love and the way you find. out, the way you rush over there, like. yeah, that that whole moment when I'm. reading it it was like. I can't imagine how tough it is to. relive that. for you as you're writing it out and why. was it. so important to share that piece and why.

did it mean so much to you to share. that? Yeah, I think it was important for me to. share it just. um. selfishly it was for me too, you know, to. to talk about it and also to show why I. am sort of the way I am and why I'm. wired the way I am. and I don't know, keep learning little. things. Like throughout the book, throughout the process of writing the. book, I was having to call and ask like. my mom some questions, right? Like.

that's how I found out my granddad's. name was uh Chile. Like I know we called. him Papa Chile, but. called my mom. Luckily my granddad still. has a few siblings that still alive and. that's why it's so important to ask our. grandparents and things like that. questions so we know our history. And. I don't know, I think it was just great. for me. Um obviously I want a lot of. people to read it, but sometimes I was. almost in the book just talking to my. family.

Because even being away from home, right? I haven't lived in Winston-Salem. in 18 years. And that's where all my. family is. Like you were saying your. wife like London or whatever, I grew up. around all my family, so. in some parts of this memoir is me. talking to my family back home that I've. been away from for a long time and just. let them know how much I appreciate. them, how much I miss them. Um. through a lot of these experiences, too, it's taught me. I really treasure the relationship that.

my kids have my parents and my wife's. parents. Right? Cuz my dad, my mom and dad, they. are not the same people that raised me. Right? They are not. The way they be so. nice to my kids and you know, my son in. the backyard shooting basketball when he. was younger and he bricking left and. right and my momma just yelling, "Good. job, baby. Good." No. That is That is. not what you're supposed to be doing. But there are times when my kids will do. something and I get on them and I see my.

dad them like, "Be easy on them." And I. like, "You wasn't easy on me." But. because of my grandfather and that. relationship, I get it. Like I get it. When my parents would get. mad at me or I get my butt whooped, the. first person I called was my granddad. So, I'm I'm grateful. for that cuz those relationships are. really important and I want to make sure. that my kids uh have that bond that I. had to with my granddad. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And And that's I'm.

so happy to hear that. I'm so happy to. hear you feel that your kids have that. with your parents and Jada's parents. because. Yes, cuz when they wake up when my. parents are in town and my kids wake up. in the morning, they run in there first. Yeah. They run in there first and I see. the way that my parents light up. And. it's seriously, like I literally look at. my parents and I think back to my. granddad and how he must have felt. And. it's it's so crazy. What's this? 2023, my dad is 62 now.

And so, when my grand I mean, when my. dad turned 61 last year, it was like. crazy emotional for me cuz I was like, "Man, this is how old my granddad was. when I lost him." And. it's crazy to see like my dad. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And for them to to. have him in the house and in greatness. It's uh I think the part that really. blew my mind is you saying how you found. a way to have uh empathy and uh.

you know, some sort of like forgiveness. for the four individuals that assaulted. your grandfather. And I think having to. relive it again when the case gets. opened up again and you know, you know, to deal with it up until 2021, I think it was. Like. you know, it's like that. having to go through it is the worst. thing anyway. And then to have to leave. relive it again and for it to be opened. up and for innocence to to be the topic. of conversation and for then again for.

it to close like. But you for you to be in a place where. you said it's taken you a long time, but. you feel like there's a certain level of. empathy. I'm like, "That is. I mean, walk us through the journey, not. the end cuz the end is the hard part, but Yeah, the journey's tough because. in the immediate reaction. Oh, yeah. Like I said in the book, I had. some family members who was going to. handle it handle it themselves. But it was um.

I don't know. It took a while, but then. you start to realize. no matter what happens, he's not coming. back. Right. I couldn't get him back. And. I don't know if it was just getting. older or the way that I like watch. shows, you start learning about the. prison system and all this different. type stuff. And you you start realizing. that. people make mistakes, sometimes bigger. than others, but being. incarcerated for that.

long of a time, you know what I mean? If. you can show that. you're remorseful and everything that. everything has happened. that's. when I definitely think you need a. second chance at this thing. Did you ever receive any remorse or. apology or any sort of thing from them. or that never happened? No. No, never. And what's crazy is like. I said, when that case got reopened, that was one of the first times it was. the first time that I actually started. finding out details about the case.

Yeah. Cuz you think about like I said, I. was in college and my parents wouldn't. let me go. They wouldn't let me go to. any of the court hearings or anything. like that. And uh over the years, I tell. you my Aunt Rhonda, she the one that be. on top of everything and. it was a few times that I used to ask. her. I used to be like, "Auntie, show me. show me what the boys look like.". You know, and she would like pull up a. picture or what not. And that was like. hard to even look at cuz. you start questioning asking why like.

the hell why would you do this? But. as time goes on. you just you just try to heal. That's. that's huge, man, to to never hear. the apology and remorse and to almost to. accept an apology you never received. in order to rise above. I mean, that. that's like I mean, that's I mean, I was. going to ask you what do you think's the. toughest thing you've ever done. I'm. like Mhm. that sounds like the toughest. thing anyone's ever had to do. Yeah, for.

sure. It's definitely one of them. Like. I said, I think it was the unexpected. situation as far as my granddad. And in. the book, like I really like detail. You know, when traumatic things happen, you sort of tend to remember everything. down to I remember scuffing my Jordans. You know what I mean? Uh right there. about a about a gym. And. it was crazy. It was just a whirlwind. how everything happened. I went from the. best day on the 14th, seriously, like a. movie. The 14th signing my letter of. intent to the 15th that happening.

You start to realize that. I don't know. Like I don't I'm I'm right. here thinking about it. I love that. When people when people. call you sometimes now or what not, like. you always hope for the best but expect. the worst. You know, when somebody says, "Yo, this. happened." You know what I mean? Even. though that one situation happened, it. sort of almost gets you on edge when it. whenever something happens. Yeah. Well, well, I think that. the book is genuinely like it's a. beautiful dedication to your grandpa.

Like it is like. I can't imagine anyone in the world who. wouldn't be super proud to be. honored in that way. Like it's such a. beautiful honoring of a person that you. loved. And I've never I don't think I've. ever read a memoir that felt like the. honoring of someone else. Man, I. appreciate it. I really mean that. It's like I I was. reading I was like you you know, obviously you shared you do share so. much about yourself, but so much about. yourself is in him. For sure. And from him. And so. you know, to to read something where.

someone honors like almost offering your. life as an honoring to him. is to do that in a memoir is very very. special. It's like very special. How. many books have you written? Written. like two. I'm on my third, yeah. Oh, yeah. This is one. And that one was that. took a while because like you said, I. wanted you to be able to feel like what. I was experiencing and what I was going. through. And it's cool. It's really. cool. It's really cool to hear that you. you read it all. That sort of made me. nervous when you said that, too. Cuz. cuz it's not probably not always going.

to be. um. the best or what not. But if somebody. can draw any experience from it, right? Any experience from it and uh I think. then. that was a win. Yeah. And I I I didn't. mean to scare you. I just wanted you to. know, you know, I just I feel like when. I when I started to dive into you and. it, I was just like. I just needed to feel like I had a real. grasp of what you'd gone through to to. to honor you in this way as well. Like.

when I sit down with someone, I feel. like I'm trying to. to some degree appreciate and honor. their life because it's my ability to. also capture your you as a as a human. And even even the name, like I remember. when the book first came on my desk and. I was trying to figure out like I didn't. get the physical version, but the the. digital version. When it first came to. me, I was like, "Oh, 61, interesting.". And I started diving into everything. around it. And what it what did it feel like. winning that game, you.

you know, when you talk about all the. feelings that rushed through your head. of like, "Oh, that's the record of. Jordan at 67." And you know, I feel like. when you're in that place, so many. things are flashing in between your. eyes. Like, walk just. walk us through that. It was crazy cuz like I said, the high. school that we played against was my. mom's old high school, Parkland. And the most I scored in a game up to. then might have been like 34 or 36. And I know that when. death happens or things happen for me a.

lot of times, I get quiet, right? And a. lot of times that's because I'm just. trying to collect my thoughts or. trying to breathe or I don't necessarily. know what I'm always thinking, but I. knew that I wanted to try to honor my. granddad somehow, someway. And I didn't. want. everybody to know. Mhm. You know, I'm. one of those people that just like try. to get it done, right? Get it done. And. when it happened and I had 59 and I. drove and I I scored the 61st point,

I think about that was. 20 years ago, right? 20 years ago. So, I had I couldn't foresee that I would be. in the NBA all this different type of. stuff, but um. that was the highlight. Right? And I. just never forget being so tired and. exhausted because emotionally I've been. drained. Right? I had literally been. drained and seeing my dad over there on. the bench and my brother or whatnot just. made it that much more emotional and I.

knew, like right then, that all my. family was in town or not and that's. something that would always connect us. for the rest of our lives. Yeah. I think I think for so many people. who went through something like that 20. years ago. it's easy to. for all of us on the outside to look. back now and see. how incredible it is, but uh. for so many people that would have been. a very valid reason to give up on their. dream or for it to. not happen because it you know, it it. derails you and it can derail your life.

and that would be completely valid, but. to actually look back at it now and go. this career is dedicated to this person. through your lens. it's it's remarkable to think that you. could find the courage to step up again. and go from that. Yeah. I think what's even crazier for me. probably at this point in my life is. that I've actually been without my. grandfather longer than I was with him. Right? And I never think about that. You. sort of just live or whatnot, but. there's. literally almost nothing that I can do.

on a daily basis that. I don't think about him, you know? And. what's crazy is in the book. um. I think I said something about uh one of. his favorite scriptures being. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things. through Christ who strengthens me. In. that video I just found when he's. standing up thanking everybody for. coming to um. his birthday thing, he says that. Wow. And it gave me goosebumps. He says that. in the video, so one thing about it, I'm.

going to tell my daddy to keep keep. buying the videos cuz it's uh it's it's. really nice to have. Yeah, and that's. not the watch though, that's a different. watch. No, but. this isn't the watch, but uh Vacheron, right? This is a 222. I literally got. this watch because it looks like the one. Yeah. The way you described it, I was like, yeah, yeah. watch looks like it and I mean, I think. I talked about how. strict my parents were growing up. There.

was no earrings, no nothing like this or. whatnot, no tattoos or whatnot, but last. summer I got this this tattoo right here. which is Chevron logos. Mhm. Right, so. uh from my granddad. Yeah. I love getting to do this because I even. even just sitting with you right now, I'm I'm like I'm thinking my head, I'm. so grateful that I came out today to sit. with you to to have this opportunity. because. you know, it takes a lot of courage to. sit with someone and. for them to open up in this way and. obviously you have a book to do it and.

I was really fortunate to have the same. experience to sit down with Kobe in. 2019. 2019? 2019, yeah. 2019 it would have been. It. was it was literally like 2 months. before. his tragic accident. So I got to. interview him and we didn't we didn't. know each other in the same way we don't. know each other, but I felt like there. was. a real connection. It was. such a such a gravitas and such a. presence when he spoke and just his. demeanor with the team and just.

everything and and even today like. you know, I think when when you talk. about not being able to play with. someone, but knowing what could have. been, but you again even today you would. like you look up and you know, honor him. in that way like. how how do you navigate what ifs in your. career? I feel like that again as an. athlete is such a skill because there's. so many what ifs. Like, what if I did. that, played it that way, played it this. like you know, and so talk us through. that because I think even in life like. that's what your whole book about just.

for everyone who's listening. Chris's whole book is about what his. granddad told him off the court which. applies on the court and then on the. court lessons that apply off the court. and there's this beautiful synergy but I. think there are so many people listening. and watching right now. who live their life in what ifs. and you've had a lot of what ifs that's. the big one you call out in the book how. do you how do you breathe and live. through that You know what it's 24. chapters in my book you know what I mean. as a tribute to Kobe you know what I. mean and. I was actually on the phone with Adam.

Silver yesterday and I brought up a Kobe. quote talking to him and I actually. talked to Vanessa every now and then too. that's probably one of the coolest. if not the best award that I've gotten. since I've been in the NBA was um. a year before last they started a Kobe. and Gigi award and I was able to get the. the first one that they did. and so Kobe was just different right and. the way he approached things but the way. we competed against each other. and I think in the book what I keep.

talking about when you say. the what ifs. right. I always say if there was one thing that. I could change in my entire career it. wouldn't be wins and losses. it would be how I rehabbed after my very. first surgery. right so I had surgery on my meniscus. back in 2009 right and I was so young. 2009 2010 I was so young at the time. that it was like. all right they did the surgery okay I'm.

going to be fine. right didn't really take rehab that. serious cuz I was just so young it was. like okay they fixed it I'm going to be. fine. but because of that I've had so many. different things over my career. different hamstring things or whatnot. and. me and my agent were talking about it. the other day. but sort of the story of my career has. been the. different situations that have happened. over my career, how I've learned from. them. Mhm. Right? So, an injury that I.

had, right? It taught me something and I. was like, "Okay, I'm going to figure out. how to how how this is going to make me. better." Right? I get traded or whatnot. Okay, they feel like I ain't performing. well enough or I'm not playing enough. games. How is this going to make me. better? So, every time something has. happened, right? You know, I got to talk about it. in the book. The craziest thing, probably one of the craziest things in. my career was that injury in Houston. Mhm. When I got hurt and we were.

a game away from going to the NBA. finals. And so, had that not happened, had I not hurt my. hamstring. that year and then hurt it again the. next year, I don't think I still would. be playing in the league right now. Mhm. Because all of that stuff was a wake-up. call to me. It was like, "I got to. change something. Mhm. I got to change something. I got to. figure this out." And once all that. stuff happens, All right? So, if you if you if you sit. around and I'll tell you this, if you. sit around and dwell on that what if too.

long, somebody going to pass you by. Mhm. You know? So, if you sitting over. there trying to figure out what if, somebody else over here going to take. your job. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. And that And that's And I And I love. that idea of this happened, what can I. do better? This happened, what can I do. better? That that mentality of like. continuous improvement and rededication. as opposed to Exactly. Instead of what. if, it might be what's next. You know. what I mean? Cuz. yeah, you can sit back and chill and me. and Kobe every now and then be like,

"Man, we played together. We played. together." Yeah, what not, but. everybody can't do it, but I can. compartmentalize that. I can talk about. this what if, but I'm still. you know, I still got my eye on what's. what what the goal is. Yeah. Yeah, I think I think a lot of us. live in what if, but we all have to. learn to live in what is. Yeah. what's next as you said, because that. that's what we have. Yep. And and I love hearing that it's. great, but what I appreciate is it's a. nuance. It's really subtle what you just.

said there and I want people to. appreciate it because what you're saying. is I can feel this way, I can. compartmentalize it and I can move on. and I think that's super healthy because. I think a lot of us pretend like we. don't have what ifs. Right. easy to walk around and I love what you. just talked about with your injury. It's. a lot It's very easy to walk around and. be like, "I've got no regrets. I have no. what ifs in my life." But the truth is. we all have them. Yeah. you don't address them, they're going to. come up somewhere. Exactly. But but you're saying no, you have it, compartmentalize it and then focus on. what next. That really resonated.

going to be sitting around telling them. high school stories or whatnot that. don't nobody care about no more. Yeah, and that and that happens to all. of us. We can all live in nostalgia and. walk down memory lane. Uh Chris, this has been such a such an. honor to sit with you. Is there. something that I haven't asked you or. something that's in your heart and mind. right now before I have a couple more. questions, but is there anything that I. haven't asked you or something that's on. your heart and mind right now that you. really want to share that Um. feel I haven't touched on? No, just the.

the appreciation for this and being able. to talk and tell my story through the. book and I hope people can really feel. that it was it was really about that. It. was about letting people understand and. know about me and make sure that people. understand that look, my family, like. anybody else has got their issues. Everybody. isn't all like. loving and all this stuff on each other. at all times. I mean, extended family or. whatnot, but at the end of the day it's. my family, you know, and as long as you,

you know, try to work through different. things with you and yours, I promise you. um. you know, you'll appreciate it in the. end. Yeah, I love that. Well, Chris, we. end every On Purpose episode with a. final five. And these ones have to be answered in. one word to one sentence, maximum. But, I always change the rules, so we'll. we'll we'll try. Uh. Chris, what's the best advice, and I'm. guessing it's going to be from Grandpa, but what's the best advice you've ever.

heard or received? Uh never delay. gratitude. That was actually from my. college coach, Coach Prosser. Mhm. Well, walk us through that actually. I want to. hear more. Yeah, never delay gratitude. And that. means, you know, if you're grateful or. thankful for anything, be sure and tell. people. You know, be sure and tell. people. Like, I don't care where I'm at, what's going on, whenever I get off the. phone with my parents, my wife, my kids, or whatnot, it's always I love you. You. know, those times when you say you're. going to tell somebody something in the. morning or something like that. Like,

you just never You absolutely never know. what's going to happen, so never delay. gratitude. And and that was a coach who. said that to you. How did How did that. apply to sport? And why How did Why did. he introduce Because that's so. interesting to get from a like a a. basketball coach. Yeah, so I talk about Coach Prosser a. lot in the book cuz he's he's one of the. most three most influential men in my. life. And he just had all of these. sayings, right? Never delay gratitude. If you can't be on time, be early. Uh don't be a two-to-four guy, be a. four-to-two guy. And it was just all.

these different things. And the reason. that never delay gratitude thing, how it. related to sports was it's hard to win a. game, right? It's hard to win one game, let. alone make it to the playoffs. Like, our. coach the other night when we clinched. to make it to the playoffs, in the. locker room, he just told everybody, he. said, "Listen, I'm grateful for you. guys. We always talk about gratitude. There's a lot of teams that's going home. and going on vacation, but. you know, don't take it for granted that.

you get a chance to play in the. playoffs." Yeah, that's awesome, man. I. love that. And a lot of young athletes. who are listening, or if you have kids. who are young athletes, like that's. great advice because often that kind of. softer touch is is missed. Like you. don't think it's there. So. Yeah, but when I say never delay. gratitude, I also mean for like kids to. your parents. Like when I'm at my. basketball camps, I always make all the. kids stand up and turn around and tell. their parents thanks. Cuz like I said in. the book, my dad spent his entire 401k. on me and my brother playing travel.

basketball. So that's where these kids, they get to go do all these camps and. all this stuff and don't delay. gratitude. Tell your parents thank you. cuz every kid is not getting that. opportunity. Yeah. I actually I want to. I want to take a side note on that. because one of the things I was blown. away by in your journey is just how much. purpose and giving back and service is. such a big part of. how your your foundation, the way it's. set up, your. when you walk through the, you know, the. the murder of and the death of George. Floyd and.

Black Lives Matter and then how you're. dealing with it in the bubble and of. course with your role at the time and. you talk about how like you changed the. messaging three times. Like it went from. peace Yeah. to to I forgot what the other one was. Say her name. And then I think it was. equality. Equality, yeah, correct. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And and and you shift through. it. And I was just thinking like there's. just so much intention in your life with. all the work that you've chosen to do, uh what what's been kind of like a. meaningful fruit or result that you've. seen that has really It's a it's a lot.

of different things and I'm fortunate to. have an amazing team that works with me. or what not cuz. obviously dealing with a lot of. different things on a given given day. and trying to be the best athlete that I. can be, but they're constantly bringing. different things uh saying, "Hey, would. you like to support this? Or could you. do this?" And. uh I'm always trying to as much as I. can. And I think the most valuable thing. that I have is time. So even if it's. before a game or after a game, giving.

a young kid an opportunity to watch me. warm up, or taking a picture with him, and just giving them your undivided. attention for for 5 minutes is one of. the most valuable things that you can do. with anybody. Yeah, absolutely. And I. just I'm I'm going to read this out. because it's so it's so powerful. So, last March, Chris was the only athlete. appointed to President Biden's advisory. board on historically black colleges and. universities. And and that's been I mean that that's. incredible that you've become a a. spokesperson and a champion for for.

that. Is there some of the work there. that's resonated or some stories that. you think Oh, man. Um It's probably so. many. Yeah, I mean well, we we got a lot. of different things. What we've done is. uh me and my brother a few years ago, and then Carmen actually did it, too. We. went to this business class at Harvard. with uh Anita Elberse. Um. a BEAMs class, business education. management sports, I think. And. after going to that class at Harvard, we. were like,

"Why isn't this. curriculum or course offered at HBCUs?". And. we got to work, and Anita helped with. it, and now we have that course at a few. different HBCUs. Wow. Right? So, just always trying to. figure out how we can make some type of. impact. Equality, again. Exactly. Equal access. Equal access to education. It's incredible. I'm glad I'm glad we. went there, actually. Uh second. question, what is the worst advice. you've ever heard or received? Worst. advice? Uh.

"That cheese tastes good.". Cheese is disgusting. Like, seriously, I've never had a. cheeseburger, macaroni and cheese, none. of that. It's disgusting. I thought you. do my cheese is in money. And so, you're being literal. Yeah, you're being. literal. Yeah, yeah, literal. Okay, literal. So, you don't like cheese? At. all. At all? No. No. Not even on pizza? No, no, no, no. I'm. cool. No cheesy fries? No. Oh. No. Okay. No. Okay, that's good to know. When we used to get home from school, he.

used to go in the refrigerator and get. the block of cheese. What is that? I. don't even know what it. That string cheese, kind of like I think. I know what you're talking about. Yeah. I don't know. He used to have to take. plastic off the side and eat it. Doing nothing but putting mucus all in. his body. Nasty. Also, question number three, how would. you define your current purpose? You. know, basketball and athlete, that's. that's what I do, not necessarily all of. who I am, but just. just trying to help make a difference in.

in different aspects of life. Whether it. be HBCUs, whether it be health and. wellness. I think that's been a big. thing that I've become passionate about. the past four or five years is trying to. figure out how to make some of these. health things more accessible, right? And make people more aware. Like I'm. always curious about. this, that, whatever it may be. I'm so curious. about water and the things that people. are eating and all these different type.

things and trying to make sure that. other people become aware like I am and. the other biggest purpose is whatever I. have to do for my family. Mhm. Right? Whatever I have to do do for my family, especially my wife and kids is just. trying to figure out how I continue to. pour into them. Question number four, what what's your reaction to the title. point god? Oh, man. Uh. the the point god thing has been. it's crazy. I don't even know when it.

started. I don't even know when I when. it started, but. it's a privilege, right? Like a honor, basically. That people see you playing. the game the right way. Now, it ain't. something like worshiping thing or. whatnot, but uh. I get really like kind of shy and. bashful when people say that or whatnot, but uh. it's it's cool to be. even in that consideration and playing. for as long as I played. It's dope. Uh. fifth and final question, if you could. create we ask this to every guest who's.

ever been on the show, if you could. create one law that everyone in the. world had to follow, what would it be? Take your time. Ooh wee. One law. Yeah. That everybody in the world had. in the world had to follow, what would. it be and take your time. There's no. rush. Oh, that is. everybody got to get them guns up, man. Everybody Everybody come turn them in. Everybody come turn them in. Everybody. So, if we got some beef or something. like that or somebody got to do. something, you got to fight it out. You.

got to fight it out. I don't know, that. was the first thing came to my head. Yeah. That's awesome. Thank you, Chris. Paul. Everyone, Chris incredible memoir. 61. Make sure you go and grab it. We're. going to put the link in the comments. and the captions across the board. Want. you to go read this book. If you're. already a fan of Chris, you're going to. love it. If you're learning about Chris. through this, you're going to love it. even more because it's it's truly a. remarkable story of love, of sacrifice, of connection, of generations passing on. beautiful lessons. Uh you've got like. four, five generations in the book being.

talked about. So, I hope you go and grab. a copy of 61. Chris Paul, it's been a. pleasure and an honor. Honestly, honestly, you're. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank. you. one of my favorite interviews, honestly, because you're so present. When I was. sitting with your book, it felt that way. and to sit with you and to watch you. thinking and to watch you visualize it. and to watch you telling it from memory. and then for you to share that story. about finding that tape or your father. finding that tape. I mean, just really grateful, man. Thank you for. this. Thank you. you, Jay. Thank you. Thank you, man. If.

you love this episode, you'll love my. interview with Kobe Bryant on how to be. strategic and obsessive to find your. purpose. Our children have become less. imaginative about how to problem solve. and parents and coaches have become more. directive in trying to tell them how to. behave versus teaching them how to. behave.