born american professional basketball player national_basketball_association nba point guard won nba rookie year award olympic gold medals led nba assists times steals times selected nba star teams nba teams defensive teams paul mcdonald american high school attended years college basketball helped demon achieve number ranking selected fourth overall nba draft traded court paul served president august highest paid athletes world holds endorsement deals companies early life paul born north_carolina older brother named athlete taught sons basketball football coached youth leagues growing paul brothers spent summers working service station owned grandfather paul attributes life lessons describes best friend opening speech paul revealed police officer high school career paul attended north_carolina freshman sophomore seasons played junior varsity team junior year averaged points assists steals game helping reach state semifinals ensuing summer led based title earning tournament mvp honors process senior season paul received national attention scoring points game year old grandfather slain earlier year paul honored scoring point year life paul finished season averages points rebounds assists steals game leading record class eastern regional finals named mcdonald american team parade american north_carolina basketball college career freshman paul averaged points assists steals game setting school freshman records point percentage free throws free throw percentage assists steals play demon qualified losing sweet sixteen conclusion season paul named year team weeks early paul sophomore season ranked number nation time school history final game year paul punched guard groin received game suspension incident marred paul image short time demon qualified suffered second round upset hands west_virginia final averages points rebounds assists steals game paul eventually named grade point average named espn april announced hiring agent turning professional march retired jersey college career statistics professional career early seasons paul selected fourth overall nba draft devastation caused hurricane katrina played games year paul finished season leading points assists steals double doubles second rookie nba history lead league total steals final averages points rebounds assists steals game named rookie year falling vote shy winning award unanimously rookie receive place vote paul enjoyed brief rivalry early careers star weekend paul set new records assists steals sophomore season increased scoring passing averages points assists game played games injury rise stardom paul selected nba star game playing home fans new_orleans leadership near western conference standings year temporarily occupying place march following win new_orleans finished season franchise record wins second seed west paul led nba assists steals game points game finishing second nba valuable player award voting named nba defensive teams playoff debut scored points dallas game set franchise playoff record assists defeated games paul registering points rebounds assists final game new_orleans eliminated round prior start season paul signed contract extension worth million december set nba record consecutive games steal occasions came steals recording quadruple double including point rebound assist steal game philadelphia january final averages points rebounds assists steals game despite paul individual accomplishments record fell year eliminated round playoffs slow start season fired coach paul stirred controversy announced displeasure commenting team management consulted asked felt happened early february paul tore left knee sidelined month surgery forcing miss total played games averages dropped points rebounds assists steals game paul struggled missing playoffs paul injury scare march season suffering concussion guard carried court returned games later registering points assists sacramento kings paul playing season qualified playoffs matched defending champion round paul historically great performance series contributing points assists steals game points rebounds assists game final averages points rebounds assists steals game percent shooting new_orleans eliminated games ownership fearing paul leave franchise free agency began actively pursuing trade provide team compensation return services present trade los_angeles december agreed team trade sending paul nba owned team time deal commissioner claiming new_orleans better keeping paul teams involved trade attempted lobby league reverse ruling reconstruct deal avail december agreed trade sending paul deal broke nba added additional demands original terms days later teams finally trade sending paul future second round draft picks unprotected round pick draft deal completion paul announced opt final year contract remain los_angeles seasons playoff contention present paul arrival los_angeles franchise teammate later commenting map early paul debut season team developed reputation fast paced offense spectacular alley usually paul griffin earning nickname paul finished year averaging points assists steals game named nba team franchise moved los_angeles 1980s play emergence griffin nba performer los_angeles qualified playoffs losing star game paul led west victory point assist performance earning star game mvp award finished season averaging points assists steals game helping franchise record wins seeded fourth west entering playoffs los_angeles defeated round shortly early postseason exit announced renew coach contract rumors arose paul forcing del negro los_angeles later denied player involvement coaching decision prior start season paul signed years contract worth approximately million despite shoulder injury sidelined month los_angeles set new franchise record wins final averages points assists steals game game second round playoffs hit career postseason high help early series lead oklahoma city thunder game series tied string late mistakes leading eventual thunder victory later commenting happened end eventually eliminated los_angeles games paul played games time career averaging points league high assists game game round playoffs hit ahead shot second left lift spurs despite injury injury forced miss games series versus houston rockets los_angeles eventually lost seven games despite holding series lead defeat marked consecutive seasons seven consecutive playoff appearances conference finals appearance paul national team career paul debut united_states national team world championship japan finished competition tournament high assists helping win bronze medal olympics beijing played key role bench scoring points gold medal game victory spain finished competition perfect record paul promoted starting point guard position olympics london averaging points assists steals game route gold medal undefeated tournament player profile standing feet tall weighing pounds paul plays point guard exclusively nba preview espn called paul league best point guard adding title held career healthy career averages points rebounds assists steals game earned nba honors seven times defensive honors seven times led nba steals times assists times ranked best player league espn sports_illustrated paul prefers playing half court versus playing tempo creates scoring opportunities constantly changing speeds beating defender pick roll slow box denying regaining position forcing defense help times ability penetrate deep paint leads easy shots teammates second league assisted shooter especially proficient right elbow leading league shooting percentage area defense opponents active hands high effort ranked best perimeter defenders nba court paul married college sweetheart september children born born august family resides mediterranean style mansion paul bought million november paul appeared family family feud paul christian attends church sunday possible interview paul commented parents raised depend god guidance faith receive enjoys bowling owns franchise league called hosted participated numerous celebrity youth bowling events head benefits programs louisiana affected hurricane katrina charities paul brother played college basketball played preseason exhibition works chris personal manager paul close friends lived complex bush playing saints shared personal chef forbes ranked paul highest paid athletes world million earnings including million endorsements companies business cover athlete video game nba paul selected president august having served executive committee years key figure banning owner nba following racist remarks sterling interview paul mentioned possible boycott sterling continued team paul played significant role election executive director giving strong recommendation executive committee responsible filling position nba career statistics regular season playoffs awards honors nba nba star nba team team second team team nba defensive team team second team nba star game valuable player award year nba rookie team college team consensus american retired team defensive team freshman team rookie year tournament second team olympic gold medalist world championship bronze medalist year
Chris Paul