Sixty-One

By the NBA superstar: a memoir of family, family, community, and basketball

In this powerful and unexpected memoir that goes beyond basketball, NBA legend Chris Paul reveals the life lessons his grandfather, “Papa,” taught him and how he carries them forward.

The day after future NBA superstar Chris Paul signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Wake Forest, he received a world-shattering phone call. His grandfather, Nathaniel “Papa” Jones, a pillar of the Winston-Salem community died from a heart attack resulting from an assault. He was sixty-one years old. The day after burying his grandfather, Chris Paul chose to honor him by scoring sixty-one points.

In Sixty-One, Chris opens up about life beyond basketball and the role his grandfather played in molding him into the man and father he is today. He writes about the foundation of faith and family he built his life upon, what it means to be a positive light within your community and beyond, and the importance of setting the proper example for future generations. Through his Papa’s teachings, Chris shows you the impact of his hometown and the close-knit family that raised him to become one of the most respected leaders in sports.

About the Author

CHRIS PAUL is a twelve-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist. He plays for the Phoenix Suns and was president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021. He is a father, husband, and founder of the Chris Paul Family Foundation.

MICHAEL WILBON is an award-winning journalist and co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. He worked with Charles Barkley on I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It and Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.