LAS VEGAS – Sometimes, giving back for Chris Paul means donating or raising money or awareness through the Chris Paul Family Foundation. Other times, as it was Wednesday, it can be as simple as taking time out of his schedule to show he cares.
Every time, it’s about the kids.
That’s the one constant for Paul in every move he makes in the community, which early this week happened to be attending his AAU team’s annual LV Classic “The 8” tournament in Las Vegas at Spring Valley High School.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Paul said. “Some of these kids we’ve had in our AAU program for five years. To see them grow, it’s always a lot of fun.”
And they’re good.
Team CP3 is led by five star 6-9 power forward Wendell Carter, one of the top recruits in the Class of 2017, whose long list of offers and colleges he’s considering includes Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and even Harvard.
There’s also five star point guard Collin Sexton, who’s also undecided and whose list of offers continues growing, from Kansas, to Florida, to Arizona and across the U.S. Many of Paul’s kids are elite high school prospects, which is why most of the NCAA’s top Division-I coaches came out to the tournament.
As Paul’s team dominated Wednesday, leading by double digits nearly the entire way and cruising to victory with the outcome never in doubt, Paul was at the end of the bench.
It wasn’t passively, either.
He stood up when his players did well, then gave pointers at breaks in the action took the time to show players what they could’ve done differently.
Victor Enoh, one of Paul’s players still figuring out where his college move will be, said Wednesday that Paul emphasizes the importance of the little things – like when a player takes a charge, making sure the rest of the team is there to pick him up.
Think it makes a difference that he’s showing them in person?
“It means a lot,” Enoh said. “Other NBA players are on vacation, but he comes down and supports us when we’re playing.”
Regardless of the age group of kids he’s helping out, whether they’ve got years of development left or they’re about to become the next major college star, Paul continues to emphasize one thing.
“Family,” Paul said. “I love being here with my kids. Basketball is obviously a big part of it, but we’re more so trying to make sure they’re good men and understand life after basketball.”
That’s something Jon Adams – better known by Paul and those around the AAU circuit as “Jon Jon” – who’s coached Paul’s AAU teams since they started a decade ago, always understood.
“The Paul family is so invested in their team,” Adams said. “Every time we’re together, we say, ‘Family on three,’ and we say, ‘CP3 Family.’ We’re saying that because we really mean it. When we bring these boys in, we’re bringing them into a family; not a team – a family.”
Adams has known Chris, Chris’ brother, C.J., and the Paul family for more than 20 years. He said he’s always amazed at how genuine the family is in everything they do, particularly when it comes to children. As Team CP3 glided to a win, Chris, C.J. and their father were all on hand to support.
“Chris’ presence alone, it just means so much to the kids, being around not only an NBA player but an NBA superstar and an NBA spokesman,” Adams said. “They learn so much from just being around him.”
And they understand he’s doing it for the right reasons, with each of them in mind. Adams said some people in the business are in it for other reasons, but Team CP3’s motto is to do right by the kids, whether or not they’re destined for top college programs.
That’s a belief instilled in the Paul family by Chris’ and C.J.’s father, and it’s why – whether they’re at their AAU games, raising money for charity as they’ll be doing this week at their annual ping pong tournament, or helping out a Boys & Girls Club – they only have one thing in mind.
“The kids,” C.J. said. “That’s the thing. That’s everything.”