Why NBA Player Chris Paul Prioritizes Family: ‘Don’t Realize What You Have Until It’s Gone’

Published: March 12, 2024

Why NBA Player Chris Paul Prioritizes Family: ‘Don’t Realize What You Have Until It’s Gone’

By Movieguide® Contributor

NBA superstar and Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul is opening up about family following the release of his book “Sixty One: Life Lessons From Papa, On and Off the Court.”

“When I think about my grandfather and losing him, a lot of times when I’m riding around the city is when I’m thinking of, ‘Oh, me and Papa used to go eat there after church, or we used to go do this and do that,’ and now at this point in life, I try to share all those stories with my kids,” the point guard said on the “Lunch with Lindsay” podcast.

Rolling Out reported that the book is a tribute to the NBA star’s late grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, who died when Paul was in high school.

“Jones was Paul’s mentor and taught him many life lessons at an early age. According to The Associated Press, the book’s title refers to a high school game, played after his grandfather died, when Paul scored 61 points — one for each year his grandfather lived,” Rolling Out added.

“It’s one of those things where you really don’t realize what you have until it’s gone,” Paul said of family. “So, my brother, we fought all the time over the front seat. Over this and that, and then when we dropped them off to school, it’s when I missed them because you realize that all those moments you start appreciating the fights ’cause you had somebody to do it with.”

As one of the newest players on the Warriors, Paul still has multiple goals he wants to accomplish.

“Obviously, it’s that elusive championship, you know, so going to a team with guys who have that pedigree,e they’ve shown the ability to do it over and over again with a coaching staff with the prime time organization,” he said on the podcast. “So, as long as I’ve been playing, I still love learning, you know, so I’m excited about going into this team, this organization, and seeing how I can be a piece or just be part of the puzzle to help us, to help our team, win.”