Chris Paul Gets Better With Age

Hi, I'm Slum. I'm fifteen years old and I know the NBA. Today's guest really needs no introduction. He's one of the most famous faces in the NBA, a multiple time All Star, respected by everyone in the league, and now a member of a my Golden State Warriors. Today

Yeah, A Club sixty one is a leadership program that I started and then name sixty one comes from my late grandfather, and it's been really cool. I try to bring a group of kids from every city that I've played in, which is a lot now over my NBA career, and I bring a number of kids here to LA and over the course of three days we do all different types of things. Community service, We talk like at night, we have real conversations about life and just allow them

I'm sure that is life changing because I know this podcast for me is too, so anything with you life changing. So I like to start off. You know, I'm fifteen years old, and sort of the thing about Sloan knows is that I have a different perspective, right, I'm a fifteen year old girl, which is not probably the normal person that's usually interviewing you.

I'm guessing no, I mean, I got a fourteen year old son. I'm sure he's.

They're interviewing you most. But so I want to know about you when you were fourteen? What was your personality like?

Man? Fourteen, So I would have been going to my freshman year high school. Man, I just came off being a class president in eighth grade, but then going to the ninth grade, everybody they knew me in school, the CJ's little brother. I got an older brother. So I was starting high school trying to find myself and trying to find myself as a basketball player. I played JV basketball for two years as a JV I mean as a freshman as sophomore. So I was just trying to figure out myself.

And then at fifteen years old, what were you like as a basketball player? Like you said, you know you were on JV. I read somewhere that you were five eight? Is that? Is that true?

Probably on a good day, Yeah, exactly exactly. It's funny. I was short. I always say I was vertically challenged my whole life, and so I just sort of had to try to figure it out. I played football too, yes, right, so that's where a lot of the physicality came from. But I don't know. I was a after school counselor at a YMCA. You know, I was working at a job, and so I don't know, just hanging out with my friends, playing at the YMCA and trying not to get in trouble.

So then, what was it like that moment where you realized like you were going to be a generational talent?

Well, thank you first and foremost.

That was commenting question, right.

I don't know. You know, I was telling the kids today, I was talking to him. I was hoping as a kid that I could play in the NBA and the NFL. Right, wow, I used to dream, you know. It wasn't until I got a little bit.

Like bo Jackson, see look at you. That's what this is called slow notes like the commercial boat.

Did not know that? Did not know that? But that's don't learn something new every day exactly. And what's crazy about it is as a kid, I didn't know. I didn't pay attention to the fact that football and basketball were like the same time. Yes, you know, and I'm so glad nobody ever burst that bubble for me, you know what I mean, and just allowed me to have that dream and thinking that I could do both, but that that was my goal to playing the NBA in the NFL.

I feel like we need to see you out there in the NFL, like is cool. I wish there was like a celebrity game. I want to see you out there.

I'm cool. No, I play quarterback. Get me the red shirt so they can't touch me.

Who is your like NFL player comparison?

My player comparison? I don't know. I was a huge msman. I used to love Deon Sanders, right, because when I played football, I played both sides, right, I played quarterback, I played running back, I played cornerback. I played all of that. So but I still love football to this day.

I love that. So then as a basketball player, though, which NBA player did you sort of emulate your game on when you were.

Fifteen when I was fifteen. I don't know if I emulated, but the person. It's funny. At that age, I watched so much basketball, but I was the biggest Michael Jordan fan you could find. But obviously I couldn't play like mj even though you try. But Alan Iverson, Hey, that was my guy. You know what I mean. Believe it or not, I had braids At one point, I was going to say, once upon a time, I had braids. Man, I used to wear a sleeve any and everything Alan Everson was doing was what I wanted to do.

And so pre the New Orleans era, were you a Hornets fan or what was that like growing up in North Carolina?

Yeah? Pre uh, I like the Hornets, but I was just Michael Jordan's Yeah, anything Michael Jordans. I'm born and raised in North Carolina. He's from North Carolina. Whatever Michael

So there was no when you were drafted to New Orleans, there was no connection there like, oh, this team used to be in North Carolina, Like you didn't feel that.

Way now it was a connection. It was a connection because Charlotte is an hour away from where I grew up, right, so I didn't really get to go to games like that. First of all, we couldn't afford it. But one of the memories that I do have, so Muggsy Bogues played at Wake far so yes, and I was a huge Muggsy fan. And when I got he'd go, He'd go when it come to that. And Muggsy when I committed to go to Wake, actually took me under his wing, you know what I mean. Like and just I remember

That's so cool. And you know at West Fourth High School, you know, I know that. And just said, AAU, did you ever have any run ins with any other NBA players?

A You A lot of them, A lot of them. So I played AAU my whole life, eleven and under all the way to seventeen and Under didn't win the championship until seventeens. My last year playing AU, we won the championship. But me and Bron had known each other probably since we was like fourteen, so we were fourteen. His team all Ohio Shooting Stars. They they finished second and we finished third. Okay, right, because it's one team out of California to forty stars used to win it every year.

That's where it's at, California.

Yeah, all right, whatever, huh. They wanted elevens, twelve, thirteen's fourteenth. But then too, when I was sixteen, I played against Andrew.

Do they have any players the California team?

I don't think. So.

It's funny to look back at that because it probably mattered to you so much, and then like you and Browner are here now and where that definitely mattered.

They used to have a dude named Shane Harrison who went to Modern Day. They had a point guard I think named Travonte Nelson's crazy. I remember that because they were just so good. They were so good at that age. But I played against Shannon Brown, I played against Andre Gadala. Me and Drake played against each other. He used to play for the Illinois Warriors. I was on a sixteen and on the team, and he was on the seventeen and on the team.

Okay, yeah, that's ironic.

Yeah, so I mean you just know each other for so long because you play on all these circuits.

Yeah, for sure. And speaking of that, like, I know little Chris, your son fourteen, I'm fifteen, you know, probably playing AIAU. Now, what differences do you see sort of in the state of your youth basketball careers? Like what is the difference between AAU then and AAU now or social media then? And obviously you probably didn't have that aspect of your basketball career.

It's a lot different. It's a lot different. My son plays out here with Russ's AU team with Why Not, and I have an AAU program that's on the East coast in North Carolina.

And so which is an incredible alumni.

Man, we blessed and fortunate, my parents, everybody. We've been doing this for a long time, and you know, it's

So now I want to move on to your NBA career. We've talked about you when you were fifteen and it's a good age. Good things happen now, but I feel like better things have happened to you now. So what do you think is the most memorable play of your career?

Oh? Man, the most memorable play of my career. That's tough, that's really.

I asked tough questions.

Yeah, I don't I don't know. I don't know the most memorable play. I'm trying to think, and I'm usually really good at these things. But it's probably one of the plays when I first came into the league. Might have been my first bucket in Oklahoma against the Sacramento Kings, you know what I mean, So two thousand and five, a little while ago, you know, But yeah, that's probably one of them.

Yeah, that must have been so weird playing in Oklahoma when you're a team based out of New Orleans, Like, I can't imagine how that is, especially when you're thrown into the league in the first place, which is anyway stressful, and then you're totally relocated, Like, I can't imagine that.

It's wow, it's wild. And I think too, the reason why you do it, and there's always this amazing connection between myself and New Orleans is because I got drafted right before Katrina hit. Yeah, you know, so that was something that's always embraced me with that city, Yeah for sure.

And talking about most memorable place, what is the most memorable assist of your career?

The most memorable assist? Uh, yeah, that one's probably gonna have to be to to DeAndre Jordan's you know what I'm Yeah, he caught a dunk. Uh. It was crazy and that's my guy now, Brandon night h it's sick. I was on the right wing and that's me and DJ used to work on that in practice, is when the team would down the ball screen and he would act like he was coming to set a screen for me. He just run to the rim for a lot.

Yeah.

You can find that clip anywhere.

I've seen it. So how do you think your game has evolved since your rookie year?

Man? So, uh, it's yeah. It's cool though because this morning, uh, this morning actually worked out with no one playing the country h kid AJUDABNSA. So it was crazy because we was talking about how your game starts to change at times and you don't even realize it. Yeah. Right, So I'm constantly watching film, watching YouTube, watching all this stuff for me playing over the years, and I'll see a move that I used to do and I'd be like, damn, what, Well, I don't do that no more. And so your game

Yeah, for sure. And throughout your career, I mean, you've won so many awards, but which has really meant the most to you?

Oh? Man? Which award has meant the most to me? Yeah, There's been a lot of different ones, but I'll say the one that that really touched me, and it was pretty emotional, was the Kobe and GG Award. You know. I received that at the at the All Star Game a couple of years ago, and and Vanessa actually gave it to me. And knowing how much Kobe meant to not only me, but to everybody into the game, it's something that I got in my house and that I cherished.

Yeah, okay, So moving on now, what was your what's your like? Pregame song slash pregame ritual?

I got a gang of pregame ritual. You ain't got enough time right now for all things. Give it to us to get ready for the game. Uh pregame song? Man, My my playlist is so different, like it could be Kirk Franklin at one point, and then it's gonna go to Lil Wayne, then Jay Z, then right back to Latini Adams. I listened to a lot of gospel music before the games, but and then all the stuff that I got to do before games. Sheesh, oh man, let me let me go. I gotta think, because I gotta

Then, man, what is the drink?

The drink I was like beat juice and all this difference okay, and then I usually take a I do a shot of espresso before the games, and then I have to call I have to call my wife before every game, right before I leave the locker room, like seriously, if she don't answer, I will go nuts, you know what I mean, just because you the routine of it. What else I gotta do? I gotta I go and find a slam board in the locker room, right, a slamp board, and I stand on the slamt board three times?

Right, so we oh, well about your number. Let's let's forget I just said I can get really deep there and be like three. Where does that come from? And then I was like, oh, CP three.

So usually the guys that work in the locker room they say it with me two one two three, And then when we run out on the court. See, it's a whole lot of stuff. The first play that I do.

Certainly we need to do a whole episode just we can bring.

Some beat you special.

We can do it together. I mean I may have something different than like Blue Gate, right or something. It's like more my style. Okay, so we're gonna move on

What is going on?

You know exactly what I'm saying. I know, I know you know what I'm saying. So these are really hot takes, clearly, so get hot with me in these takes. Let's which NBA player is the best dressed?

Best dressed me?

That's sweet? Okay, Now give someone else somebody like talk about someone.

Else, somebody else that addresses that shay of course, I.

Love his fits to who is the best shoe game?

The best shoe game? Okay, I got it? Uh, I don't know. I don't pay attention to gouts shoes like that.

You're just two walked in.

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know who not. PJ Tucker talk tuk got a lot of shoes too, Yeah yeah, bron Yeah.

Okay. Which NBA teammate is the best singer Darius Baisley? Really interesting? Okay, I've never heard that answer before.

I like that. No.

I usually ask which NBA player could run for president, and literally every time it's unanimous it's you. So instead of asking you that question, I want to know would you run for president?

How do you think you? No no chance?

Because I was gonna like propose an idea that you could be president. I could be vice president, would be super cool.

Just be the president. Okay, you do that.

I got your vote absolutely and your endorsement. I better see. I'm gonna have like a whole commercial, right like instead of State Farm, just sloan for president.

Okay, you're gonna do it.

Yeah, that's the goal after this. Hopefully this works out enough so that I can be the president. Which arena is your favorite to play in? Environment wise?

My favorite arena? Environment? Oh the Garden MB Madison Square Guard is nothing like it. Madison Square Garden is so dope because the energy in there is obviously you in the Mecca. But they like appreciate really good basketball. Yeah right, So when I say that, I mean, if you go play in Utah, I don't care how good you playing, they booing you. Oh yeah, I ain't gonna like you,

And then now we said environment, But I want to know which which arena has the best food in your humble.

Opinion, in my in my opinion, I mean most of the time I'm playing, I'm not eating.

So the reason why I asked that question is because I watched an interview with your now teammates Steph Curry, and he was saying he was like ranking the stadium's popcorn, and I was confused because I was like, why are you eating the pop part? You know, could you ever eat the food or.

No, you can. It's funny. I mean, you got like in San Antonio, you could order water Burger, you know what I'm saying. And every time I used to play in Atlanta, I get Chick fil A. You know. But it's different too now, Like I mean, when I first came into the league, give me some chicken fingers and French fries before the game. A lot different now it's a lot different now. But yeah, once upon a time, yeah, I loved playing like in Atlanta or whatnot, so you get that Chick fil A.

I also think another thing is is like how much everything has sort of grown, Like Chick fil A used to be sort of special to cities like that, and now it's everywhere.

You know, you can get that everywhere, so on Sunday, so I can't get it.

Don trip What non NBA player celebrity is the best at basketball?

Uh? You know who can hoop? Who can really hoop? Jay Cole?

Yes, I mean like a pro stint.

Basically, we played against each other in high school.

Wow.

Yeah, we played against each other in high school. And then a couple of summers ago, I was home in North Carolina and we had a whole bunch of North Carolina guys come up in hoop and Jake Cole came up and hooped with us, so he legit.

That's so cool. What is the coldest jersey you ever worn? Not like the team, but just like the sickest jersey.

I'll probably have to say too. So one of them is the Marti Gras audition when I played in New Orleans. And then it's crazy because I see pictures here and there of when I played in Oklahoma City for New Orleans. I got to be clear because I played in Oklahoma City too. For Oklahoma for the clarifications, but for Valentine's Day we had red jerseys.

That's so cool.

We had red jerseys.

So yeah, I think of the T shirt jerseys. You want that to come back.

You know what. I wasn't mad at him, you know what I mean, I wasn't mad at him. You definitely had to get a little bit bigger or whatnot. But when I played for the Clippers, that's another one. Yeah, those those like baby blue Clippers jerseys. Yeah, that was dope too.

Okay, this is this is a hot take. If a time traveler told Clippers or Rockets to you that you would be on the Warriors, what do you think you would say?

No, my language ain't no way. There is no way. And it's so it's so fun and kind of cool that it ain't like a pink elephant in the room or whatnot. I remember me and Steph worked out together in Vegas or whatnot, and a few of the coaches walked in they saw me in Warriors gear. They was like,

But it's almost like full circle sort of. I think in some.

To say the least, you know, but it shows you like the power of sports, you know what I mean and what can be and I'm excited to see what we do.

So am I please wint a chip? Please say for my mental health? Please? Okay, So this is a new segment that you're the first person I'm doing it with. So this is quite exciting. You should be really excited. And the idea of that is, you know, so much of the media is focused on negative clickbait and putting players and teams against each other. But as a teenage girl bringing this other sort of diverse perspective, I want

Book I think it's his not just his ability to play basketball, but like who he is as a person, you know what I mean. Like a lot of times you guys get a chance to see the athlete, the basketball player, but I mean to know these people personally, to know him and how he is with his family and you know his dog, Yeah, his dog Haven, his brother, Davon, but especially his sister Maya, who is like my whole heart,

Not the basketball, Okay, So now DeAndre Jordan.

DJ DJ big fellow. Man, that's that's my guy right there. We played together for six years and we still talk on the regular. We had a book party for my book I just released the other day at Eigers and DJ was there, you know what I mean. When he won a championship, man, I was emotional for him. I talked to him that night and the next morning. It was just so happy for him, you know what I mean, because he deserves it. So DJ just one of the funniest, kindest human beings you ever see.

Yeah, okay, and then lastly Braun.

And Braun man, you know, blood couldn't make us closer, you know what I mean. Life, life happens, things happen here and there and whatnot. But I think to see the positive impact that he's had on my life, my family's life, everybody around me, and the same with him, like, well, we'll be family for the rest of our lives.

Yeah, you're a very good compliment giver. So now I want to ask, what is the best compliment you've ever received from another NBA player.

I think the thing that I'm probably most proud of is the fact that we're the only sports league that has health insurance. Right, and it sounds small or people will be like, what, why does that matters? Because there's a lot of great players who came before us, right, and to be the only professional sports league that has health insurance for past players, whether it be Tiny Archibald, doctor j all these guys who paved the way for us.

Number one thing for sure. And what about this Warriors team? Are you most excited.

For a couple of things? Probably the one thing is probably playing with guys who are like so cerebral, right who you know, they so smart in the way that they move and the way that they know each other, and so just trying to blend into that, and then also being in the Chase Center and being on the good side of when they go on and runs and making autumn threes, you know what I mean. And it's gonna be very interesting. It's gonna be an adjustment for probably not only me, but for all the fans too.

I'm excited to see how that looks. It feels like we're all just anxiously waiting to see what that looks like. You know. Yeah, so you've been in the league for a good amount of times. You're heading into your nineteenth season, which is, you know, more than I've been alive. So that's funny. But which players development and growth over your career has impressed.

You the most over my career.

In the span of those nineteen years, You know, it could be a guy that was a rookie last year.

Or someone from your first year, right, Man, I probably say Shae. I probably say Shae because I'm a little biased too, because Shae is seriously like my brother, and.

It's Kinn because he's my husband.

Oh my god, listen, my boy Shade just got engaged too. So what's wild about Shae is I seen him in Vegas at Summer League when he had got traded to go to OKAC from the Clippers, and I seen him and I adapted him up and I was like, man, it's gonna be a great situation for you. You know, I'm happy for you. Boom. Maybe like five six days later,

Yeah, He's special for sure. Okay. So, as you know, the name of my podcast is Slow Knows and Sloan knows your game? But do you? So I'm going to ask you some trivia about yourself and let's see. Let's see how you do, Chris, Okay.

Let's see.

What was your college GPA?

Oh man, my college GPA. I was an academic All America.

I know that, right.

Yeah, so let's say three six.

Three point two.

Okay, that was one of them teachers.

But how many steals did you average in your senior year of high school?

My senior year of high school, probably like eight six six. You're very confident in yourself, yeah, exactly.

Okay, so you were third on the NBA list for most assists. What is that number?

Third on the list for most assists? Oh? That rhymes? Ok So, how many assists do I have in my career? Yes, I'm asking you, dang ten thousand, five hundred.

Eleven, five hundred and one. Oh and this isn't trivia. But now that you're a warrior, I mean, how much do you think that that is going to increase? Because

Man. I don't know. I ain't even thought about that aspect of it yet. I just as soon as you asked me about it some time.

I'm just opening up.

See John Stockton pot right into my egg because he got the record for fifteen thousand or something.

So you think you can get that as a warrior.

Yeah, I gotta play about five more years to catch him.

You better I want to see that, Okay. So in two thousand and six, you were one vote away from winning unanimous Rookie of the Year.

Oh, I know who did.

Who is that one player that was voted other than you?

Oh? It was d Will But it was the beat rider in Utah. So you know who that guy is exactly. I know exactly who it was.

He haunts you in your head, not at all.

He was just look d Will my man all day long. But yeah, the guy in Utah he voted.

I don't like him. During your senior year of high school, you let your school West Forsyth to what record.

My senior year? Yes, ooh, I'm really guessing.

Yeah, very impressible.

Obviously lost the game. We'll go to the state championship. So what do we lose? Three games?

Yes, okay, three games? And how many games did you win?

Oh? Back then?

Thirty twenty seven seven on Chris okay close sort of? How many regular season games have you played over the course of your career? Mm?

Hm oh Man eleven Nred No.

One thousand, two hundred and fourteen.

Twelve hundred, twelve hundred and fourteen. A lot of games.

There we go. Thanks for listen. For more on CP three and to watch all the fun we had behind the scenes, follow me at Sloan Notes on TikTok and Instagram, or hit the links in the show notes. Remember that's Slowne with the knee from jam Street Media.