In the Bleachers

Chris Paul on trash talk and why he preferred the Clippers over the Lakers

photos by Nathaniel Goldberg

Clippers point guard Chris Paul is gracing the cover of October’s GQ magazine – great choice by the way and excellent styling. Classic but still current looks. In the issue, CP# discusses why he preferred coming to the Clippers over the Lakers in the trade last year and why he likes being “short.” That’s NBA short not regular guy short.

Why the Clippers were his preference over the Lakers:

“They had the better pieces,” he says, “and winning with the Clippers would be legendary.”

Chris Paul on why he likes being short / playing point guard: “I’ve been fortunate to be short my entire life. There’s only one position I’ve ever had to play, and that’s point guard. So I’ve always had to be that leader. And that was my job: you know, to talk. I’m a big-time people person, too. Like, I love people. I hate to be by myself.”

…on why he doesn’t talk trash: “I feel like I’ve worked so hard to get good. I’m expected to score on you.” 

…on building a fan base and helping make them part of his life: “I realize that I’m not going to be doing interviews for the cover of GQ for the rest of my life, know what I mean? I’m on TV because I play basketball really well. But when all this is over with—say something crazy happens, God forbid, and I can’t perform anymore. All those people that were in there? They’re still gonna be there.”

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