PHOENIX SUNS

Chris Paul graduates from Winston-Salem State, gifts fellow classmates $2,500

Dec 16, 2022, 4:34 PM | Updated: Jan 21, 2023, 5:57 pm

(Twitter Photo/@NBA)...

(Twitter Photo/@NBA)

(Twitter Photo/@NBA)

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul graduated from Winston-Salem State in North Carolina on Friday.

The 12-time NBA All-Star began his collegiate career at Wake Forest in 2003, where he worked on a bachelor’s degree for two years before turning pro.

Now nearly two decades later, the 37-year-old college graduate gets to celebrate and be commemorated in the ol’ cap and gown.

“When you start something, you want to see it through, you want to finish it,” Paul told the New York Times.

“And even though I was blessed and fortunate to go to the NBA, I still wanted to graduate.”

“Anybody that’s made that kind of money and has that kind of a claim, to sacrifice and still go back and get their degree — that’s an example for children and young adults everywhere that education is important,” Suns head coach Monty Williams told reporters.

“Even if you’re an entertainer or an athlete, the ability or the will and sacrifice to go back and get your degree is huge.”

Winston-Salem State is an H.B.C.U. (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), which is also where both of Paul’s parents went to school.

“I grew up in the backyard of all the H.B.C.U.s, so it was natural for me,” Paul said.

The Suns guard also assisted his fellow graduates by dishing out $2,500 into each of their Greenwood accounts.

“The very first time, we’d have to send an email to one of our classmates and tell them what our name is and what we do,” Paul said.

“I’d get a few classmates that would hit me back and start putting messages in my mailbox: ‘Are you who I think you are?’”

The Suns had an off day following a four-game road trip that ended in Los Angeles, so Paul decided to make the cross-country trip before returning on Saturday night to host the Pelicans.

Tip-off at Footprint Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

character counts

Character Counts is a registered trademark of the Josephson Institute.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns arrives before facing the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Are...

Arizona Sports

Suns guard Devin Booker questionable with ankle injury ahead of game vs. Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns have very few players on the injury report ahead of their tilt with the NBA Champion Denver Nuggets.

6 hours ago

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns...

Aaron Schmidt

The Ringer: Devin Booker has become volume distributor on Suns

Amid a rocky start to the 2023-24 season for the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker as point guard has propelled the team back to its winning ways.

12 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: The Suns have to protect Devin Booker from himself

Bickley Blast: The Suns have to protect Devin Booker from himself. Video/Photo: Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports and Phoenix Suns/NBA

15 hours ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns battles against O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors during ...

Associated Press

Suns can’t complete comeback against Raptors as offense sputters

Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter for Phoenix after missing two games because of a sore foot.

1 day ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns goes to the basket Agustin Dennis Schroder #17 of the Toronto R...

Arizona Sports

Suns guard Devin Booker suffers right leg injury vs. Raptors

Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker suffered an injury to his lower right leg early in the third quarter against the Raptors on Wednesday.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Named Western Conference Player of the Week, people (finally) take notice of Devin Booker’s game

After Devin Booker was named Western Conference Player of the Week an article came out focusing on his game, Kevin Zimmerman joins Burns & Gambo to discuss the sudden rise in respect for the Phoenix Suns guard. Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports

1 day ago

Chris Paul graduates from Winston-Salem State, gifts fellow classmates $2,500