Chris Paul is at a crossroads. Honestly, most people are focused on whether he’s got one last run left in those legs or if the "Point God" era is officially a wrap. But if you’ve been paying attention to the way he talks lately, the narrative isn't about championship rings anymore. It’s about being a dad. It’s about being home.
In late 2025, Paul signed a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers. It was supposed to be a storybook ending in the city where "Lob City" became a cultural phenomenon. Instead, it got messy. By December 2025, the Clippers essentially sent him home. Reports swirled about friction with leadership and coaching staff. But while the sports world debated his "difficult" locker room presence, Paul was busy showing up for his son’s high school basketball games.
The Real Power Couple: Chris and Jada Paul
You can't talk about Chris Paul and family without talking about Jada. They met back in high school—rival high schools, actually. She was a senior, he was a junior. Jada has joked before that it wasn't exactly "cool" to be dating a younger guy back then, but they made it work. They tied the knot in 2011 in North Carolina, and since then, she’s been the literal "rock" of the operation.
Jada isn't just "an NBA wife." She’s an entrepreneur with her own brand, Curated by Alexis, and she co-founded the Chris Paul Family Foundation. They’ve been together for over 20 years. That kind of longevity is rare in the high-pressure cooker of professional sports. While Chris was bouncing from Phoenix to Golden State to San Antonio, Jada was the one maintaining the stability for their two kids.
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The Kids: Raising the Next Generation
Chris and Jada have two children: Christopher Emmanuel Paul II (often called Lil' Chris) and Camryn Alexis Paul.
If you’re a long-time NBA fan, you probably remember Lil' Chris. He was the toddler sitting on his dad's lap during press conferences, famously imitating Blake Griffin’s "game face" on command. Fast forward to 2026, and he’s not a toddler anymore. He’s 16, a budding star at Campbell Hall School in California.
- Chris Jr. (16): Currently navigating the high-intensity world of high school hoops.
- Camryn (13): A multi-talented athlete herself who has spent her life watching her dad dominate the court.
Chris has been incredibly open about the guilt of being a "traveling dad." He’s spent 21 seasons in the league. That’s more than half his life. He recently admitted that these are years you just don't get back. When the Clippers sidelined him in late 2025, he didn't mope in a hotel room. He went to his kids' games. He leaned into the life he’d been missing while chasing a trophy.
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A Legacy of "Everyday Dads"
The influence of Chris’s own father, Charles Paul Sr., is all over his parenting style. Charles and his brother C.J. Paul grew up in North Carolina with a dad who was strict but present. Charles Sr. used to make them play with their right hands tied behind their backs to develop their lefts. He even blindfolded them sometimes.
It sounds intense, and it was. But Chris credits that "tough love" for his IQ on the court. He’s tried to pass that work ethic down. During the pandemic, the whole family had a routine. Chris would set up circuits in the home gym. If the kids saw Mom and Dad working out, they’d join in. It’s about lead-by-example leadership, even at the breakfast table.
Protection and Privacy
Being the family of a superstar isn't always easy. We saw the ugly side of this in 2022 during a playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks. A fan reportedly put hands on Chris’s mother and pushed Jada in front of the kids.
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Chris was livid. He nearly went into the stands. It highlighted the thin line these families walk between public support and private safety. For Paul, his family isn't a PR prop. They are the reason he’s still training every day, even when his future in the NBA is murky.
What’s Next for CP3?
So, is he retired? Not officially. As of January 2026, he’s still under contract with the Clippers, though he hasn't played since December 1, 2025. He told Kevin Hart on Good Sports that he doesn't want it to end with a fallout. He wants to go out on his own terms.
Whether he finds one last team before the February trade deadline or finally hangs it up, the shift has already happened. The "Point God" is transitioning into the "Point Dad."
How to Follow the Paul Family’s Lead
If you’re looking for ways to implement the "Paul Family" philosophy in your own life, here are some actionable takeaways based on their years in the spotlight:
- Build a Foundation for Others: Don't just focus on your own success. The Pauls use their foundation to "level the playing field" in education and sports. Find a way to give back to your local community that involves your kids.
- Prioritize the "Little Moments": Chris’s biggest regret is not taking more photos and enjoying the small things during his peak years. Don't wait for retirement to be present.
- Lead by Doing: Don't just tell your kids to work hard. Let them see you doing the work. Whether it's fitness, a hobby, or your career, your actions carry more weight than your lectures.
- Value Longevity in Relationships: In an era of "disposable" everything, the Pauls' 20-year relationship is a testament to communication and mutual support. Support your partner's ventures as much as your own.
The career of Chris Paul will eventually be a series of stats in a Hall of Fame book. But for Jada, Chris Jr., and Camryn, his real legacy is the guy who showed up for the high school games when the bright lights of the NBA started to dim.