from the cutting room floor:

Thinking about sitting with Chris Paul at Wake Forest for this conversation still gives me chills because all I can say with this one is… what timing. We, for various reasons, had rescheduled the date and time of this conversation a handful of times only to find out an hour before we met with him… he had been traded to the Golden State Warriors.  

I was set to talk to Chris all about his new book “61”; about his grandfather’s influence on his life as a basketball player and as a man and about how Grandpa Chili’s tragic passing and his legacy shaped and molded Chris. I had read his entire manuscript (finished it on the plane down) and was so moved by the lessons and behind the scenes stories.  With the Golden State news, I was given the opportunity to share Chris’s fresh perspective and reaction and what was not lost on me was the gift I was given being able to watch Chris process in real time, all that his family meant to him while he was still letting the fact sink in that he’d been traded to a serious contender with a mountainous chance to win a championship.  Since we had landed on the interview taking place at his alma mater, Wake Forest, Chris learned this news among family and had a different lens through which to share his stories of sacrifice and his perspective on how to be the best you can be by relying on those you love most. Chris followed up that conversation joining me virtually at the library to answer questions from kids who are rabid CP3 fans. You’ve got to see these questions! I loved the simplicity of the kids questions and how it brought out really candid answers from the 11 time NBA MVP. 

Podcast show notes:

NBA star Chris Paul joins Lindsay at his former stomping ground - Wake Forest - to talk basketball and his new book “Sixty-One” - about his journey in the NBA and how his family shaped and molded him. They chat about family, fatherhood, and forging ahead with his new team the Golden State Warriors on his mission to win a title. Chris Paul also brings his quick wit and wisdom to Lindsay’s local library for a special night answering questions from curious kids.

episode breakdown:

Intro [00:00:03]

"Sixty-One" and its Themes [00:00:56]

Chris Paul's Trade to the Golden State Warriors [00:01:59]

Sixty-One [00:09:15]

Grandfather giving you his Wake Forest hat [00:10:03]

Thoughts on losing his grandfather and nostalgia [00:11:34]

The importance of family [00:18:48]

Writing the book [00:20:48]

Excitement about the trade [00:25:01]

The Work-Life Balance Dilemma [00:28:35]

Last Moments with Grandfather [00:29:58]

The Game of His Life [00:33:20]

The importance of discipline and time management [00:37:44]

The value of imagination and being active [00:38:42]

Believing in yourself and making a comeback [00:41:59]

The most best offensive player [00:48:07]

Kobe Bryant's scoring streak [00:48:33]

Advice for aspiring NBA/WNBA players [00:49:26]

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