What did Suns star Chris Paul give to members of his graduating class after receiving his degree?

© CHRISTIAN PETERSEN (AFP) What did Suns star Chris Paul give to members of his graduating class after receiving his degree?

Though the world knows him for his achievements off the court, it was something that the Suns’ star accomplished off of it which recently turned heads and most definitely with good reason.

Chris Paul graduates with degree after going back to college

According to recent reports, Phoenix Suns star, Chris Paul earned his degree this past Friday. During a ceremony held on that day, Paul graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. No doubt a proud moment for the prolific point guard.

“I didn’t want it to be about me,” Paul said after the ceremony. “I was trying to make it as normal as possible. You know, all these students here have fought their butts off for a while to get their degree. And I wanted to make sure that in no way I was trying to show them up on their special day. They had a lot of family, loved ones that’s here to support them and to see them. And I just wanted to be a graduate just like that.”

Chris Paul gave a generous gift to fellow graduates

A former Wake Forest product, Paul spent two seasons from 2003-05, where he averaged 15 points and 6.3 assists across 63 games, before being selected at No. 4 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Seemingly not satisfied with just the spoils of the game, Paul took the commendable decision to return to college in 2020 with the intention of finishing his degree. To be clear, the Suns playmaker completed the majority of his course virtually with the University as one could imagine his career is demanding to say the least. Interestingly, he arrived at the ceremony immediately after a 15-point performance in Thursday night’s win over the Clippers, before getting back on a private jet to return in time for his team’s game against the Pelicans on Saturday.

Yet, perhaps the most notable aspect of Paul’s night, was the fact that he bestowed a lovely gift on every one of his fellow graduates in the form of $2500 each. “When I was about to walk across the stage, there were nerves, there was an excitement, there was a feeling of completion,” Paul said. “But knowing my family was there…I played many high school games in that annex. And it was so dope to look over and see my aunts and uncles, my grandparents, my parents who had been there that whole time. And then to see my wife, my kids, it just felt normal.”