Chris Paul on the cover of October's GQ Magazine

[mkwest]

From his perch at the head table, CP3 assures me that he preferred the Clippers to the Lakers all along. "They had the better pieces," he says, "and winning with the Clippers would be legendary." He says he's surprised by how much he likes living in Bel Air, in a multimillion-dollar mansion formerly owned by Avril Lavigne. But there isn't much more talk of L.A. It's so obvious he loves being back home that it feels like a setup—inviting a GQ reporter to his parents' anniversary party, seating me opposite his wife, Jada, positioning me so that I can't avoid noting his adorable 3-year-old son, Li'l Chris, as CP4 runs around refusing to make his famous "Blake face" because Paul has taught him to only do it for a dollar. Like: I get it, dude. You haven't gone Hollywood.

I first met CP3 earlier that day at the Wake Forest practice facility to watch him play some pickup ball. CP3 plays pickup like he's Peyton Manning anticipating a blitz: The gesticulation is ceaseless. He was talking to everybody in the gym: the guys on his team, the guys on the other team, even the guys waiting for next. The only person CP3 never talked to was the guy guarding him, because CP3 says he doesn't believe in talking junk. "I feel like I've worked so hard to get good," he would tell me later, "I'm expected to score on you."

Then CP3 says something I've never heard any man, let alone a basketball player, say before: "I've been fortunate to be short my entire life." I look puzzled, and he explains. "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." CP3 is looking me straight in the eye. "I'm a big-time people person, too. Like, I love people. I hate to be by myself." He repeats the phrase to himself, quieter each time: "I hate to be by myself. I hate to be by myself. I hate to be by myself."

GQ

[Quake Griffin]

so glad that he really wants to be here and understands how dope it would be to win as a Clipper.

I've always thought he embraced the challenge of bringing the Clips a ring.
admirable on so many levels.

[mkwest]

so glad that he really wants to be here and understands how dope it would be to win as a Clipper.

I've always thought he embraced the challenge of bringing the Clips a ring.
admirable on so many levels.

Many are called, but the chosen are few...

Players have had the opportunity in the past to do the unthinkable and try to lead the Clippers to the promised land. Paul actually answered the challenge. Whether we were his first, second or third option, it doesn't really matter to me. I'm just glad that he is on board and is on a mission to try to bring us a championship. It is true that a Clipper championship is worth like 3 of your typical championships, so it is a huge accomplishment for the resume when it's all said and done. He's a leader, competitor and above all, he is fearless. I couldn't ask for a better person to lead this team moving forward. Hopefully he and Clipper Nation are one day able to get what we've been longing for

[mkwest]

GQ is hosting a party for the October issue of the magazine and CP3's Clipper teammates are all showing their support.


Chris and Jada Paul


Blake Griffin


DeAndre Jordan


Caron and Andrea Butler


Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan


Matt Barnes, Caron Butler, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Willie Green

[scratch21]

no way thats Tony Parker lool

[mkwest]

no way thats Tony Parker lool

you're tripping bro

[mkwest]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw54TXl_hDI[/youtube]

[mj_shoefanatic]

Gloria Govan

[TheNewEra]

Wish Chauncey could of made it would of been epic pic

[thanumba2clippersfan]

LOL at the Matt Barnes pic

[kombayn]

Wish Chauncey could of made it would of been epic pic

The chemistry is there though. You can't expect everyone to make it but it shows these guys respect each other. I mean Matt Barnes is there after the whole "flopper" fiasco from last year, I guarantee that got him in the good graces of everyone in the organization.