Note: This interview has been conducted before Paul trade from the sun in June.
In late March, Chris Paul was eating breakfast at home when he decided to watch some old home and family videos. Chris’ father had recently converted all the tapes accumulated over many years to DVD, allowing the memories to live on.
“One of the videos I came across looked like a party with my family,” says Paul. “At my grandfather’s walks. It was a video clip from his 60th birthday party. It spoiled me. I haven’t heard my grandfather’s voice since I was 17.”
Growing up in Winston-Salem, NC, Paul and his brother CJ were incredibly close to their grandfather. So much so, that after years of pondering the proper way to honor one of the most influential figures in his life, Paul decided to write a book. sixty oneAbout the life lessons he learned from Nathaniel “Papa” Jones. The title is a reference to Jones’ age at his untimely death and the number of points Paul scored in his honor at a high school game after his funeral.
The book is a candid look back at Paul’s upbringing, much of which he spent working for Jones at his gas station. The stories told illustrate everything from the work ethic Paul observed and then internalized to fuel his 18-year football career, to the racism he experienced growing up in the South, to his grandfather’s life of service that Paul himself attempted to embody.
Paul describes writing the book — an idea he and his brother came up with during the basketball-free quarantine days in 2020 — as one of the most emotional experiences of his life. He choked several times while recording the audio version, as he recounted life moments he hadn’t spoken about in decades. Jones died in November 2002, after suffering a heart attack following a robbery and assault—just one day after Paul had signed his letter of intent to attend Wake Forest.
A 12-time All-Star, Paul admits he’s nervous and excited about the reception of the highly personal nature of sixty one. While on a media mini-tour before the playoffs, he said hearing some of the words he wrote gave him goosebumps.
“This book was therapy for me,” says Paul. “There are things in this book that my parents probably didn’t know. My brother is always with me, and sometimes I don’t express to him how much I love and appreciate him.”
Not really how close Paul is to his family. During one year in Oklahoma City, for example, he would often fly back to Los Angeles between games or at the end of road trips to spend as much time as possible with his wife and kids. He says if there was one thing he would be most proud to share with his grandfather today, it would be it, how close his entire extended family has been since Jones’ death.
Not exactly known as a huggable player on the field – which can be polarizing due to his style of play – Paul doesn’t try to win over any of his critics with his personal musings.
“This book is for everyone,” he says. “It’s about mentorship, it’s about love and support, it’s about family. No matter how you feel about me in terms of basketball, even if you don’t know anything about basketball, there are lessons people can learn from this.”