A FEW DOZEN of Chris Paul’s business associates and family members have gathered at the sleek BOA Steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. It’s July 2013, and Paul is seated at a table in front of his guests, with his 4-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter taking turns sitting on his lap. In moments, he’ll set in motion a course of events that will ultimately change the NBA. He picks up a pen and signs the biggest contract of his life: a five-year, $107 million deal with the Clippers.
Amid dinner and drinks and toasts, Paul rises and speaks, giving thanks. At every seat he’s placed a Moleskine journal, with a simple, handwritten message inside. “On the first page, I wrote ‘More,’ and that was the only thing I wrote in there,” he says. “The message was, a lot of times in life we all think that we’ve done enough or we do enough to just get by, and this wasn’t just a challenge to them, it was a challenge to myself, just to do more.”
One month later, after Paul quietly put his name on the ballot for union president, the NBA’s player representatives gathered in Las Vegas, where they voted Paul to be their leader. The move had been a long time coming.
Denne historien er fra October 12,2015-utgaven av ESPN The Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 12,2015-utgaven av ESPN The Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Rape Allegation Against Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Fame's Protective Shield
To be the world’s most famous athlete means Cristiano Ronaldo can appear on screens everywhere yet somehow elude the fallout from a rape allegation.
Michelle Waterson Reps More Than Herself In The Cage
MMA is a violent and unforgiving sport. But instead of shielding her young daughter from her career, Michelle Waterson is bringing her along every step of the way.
Kyler Murray Owns His Future In A Way No Other Rookie Has
As Kyler Murray decides which sport will win his talents, at least one thing is clear: He owns his future in a way no other rookie has.
Kyle Kuzma Turned A Sneaker Obsession Into A Legit Business Opportunity
No eight-figure shoe deal? No problem. The Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma walked his own path to sneaker supremacy.
Bryce Harper Is One Very Big Deal
He’s baseball’s best-known face and now its richest player. In this exclusive interview, the All-Star talks rejecting $300 million, recruiting Mike Trout and becoming a Phillie for life.
Kyler Murray - Will Past Be Prologue For The Possible Top NFL Draft Pick?
Sizable expectations? Kyler Murray’s got a few: go No. 1 in the draft, become a franchise player and—oh yeah— completely blow up decades of doctrine about short quarterbacks.
Eternal Champions
Seven months ago, Brazilian underdogs Chapecoense boarded a plane to play in the game of their lives. Instead, their biggest moment turned into a tragedy no one can forget.
What's In A Name?
With the founder of Bikram yoga facing assault allegations, it seems simple: Studios should distance themselves from his name. But it’s not so easy.
One Formula For Change
To inject excitement back into its races, Formula One needs more than a tweak or new twist—it needs to correct its course.
All About The Goals
U.S. national team hero and Chicago Red Stars defensive midfielder Julie Ertz shares her secrets for keeping her world-champion mindset.
