Chris Paul Biography

Fast Facts

• Nicknamed CP3 because he, his father and his brother all have the same initials: C
• P
• (his father is CP1, his brother is CP2)
• Scored 61 points in a 2002 high-school game as a tribute to his 61-year-old grandfather, who had just been murdered (he died the day after Paul signed with Wake Forest); after he reached 61 points, Paul intentionally missed a free throw and removed himself from the game
• Stitches the number 61 on his shoes
• Had a copy of his grandfather's obituary with him at every game during his first year at Wake Forest
• Holds the ACC record for steals by a freshman with 84 and also broke school freshman records for three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, free throws and assists
• Ranks second in minutes played as a freshman in school history behind former NBA player Frank Johnson (1977)
• Ranks third in games started as a freshman in school history behind current NBA players Josh Howard (1999) and Tim Duncan (1994)
• Named 2004 ACC Rookie of the Year and was named unanimously to the 2004 ACC All Rookie first team
• Led the Demon Deacons to two NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Sweet 16 in his freshman year (2004)
• Two-time All-American at Wake Forest
• Coached at Wake Forest by Skip Prosser, who also coached Hornets teammate David West at Xavier
• Started the CPS Foundation in 2005 to better the Winston-Salem, NC, community
• Declared for the draft after his sophomore year at Wake Forest; selected fourth overall in the 2005 draft by the New Orleans Hornets
• Voted 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year almost unanimously; missed by only one vote (from a Utah journalist who voted for Deron Williams of the Jazz, who was drafted third)
• Named to the 2006 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Played on Team USA in the 2006 FIBA Championship tournament, winning a bronze medal
• Named a spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress in 2007
• Set Guinness record for sinking four half-court shots within a minute during 2008 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans
• Second place in 2008 NBA MVP voting (Kobe Bryant)
• Won a gold medal with the 2008 U
• S
• Olympic Basketball Team
• Selected for the Western Conference All-Star Team, the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive Second Team in 2008