Fast Five with Chris Paul

1. I love how you’re always talking to teammates—in practice, in games, on the sidelines. Always communicating.

“I’ve just always been that way, probably since I was a kid. When I played football as a kid, I was the quarterback. That's just the way I am.”

2. Leader on the court, off the court and even during a lockout.

“I was always vertically challenged so I’ve never been a power forward or center. I’ve always been a point guard. It’s always been my job to lead. And I’ve been comfortable in that role. And I’ve always been one of those people that likes to be as informed as possible on any situation. So that was part of being on that board with the negotiations and everything.”

3. You have a high basketball IQ too. What’s it like playing with someone who's also very smart like Chauncey?

“It’s fun because we both just talk about different things. Either one will bring up something and we’ll both be like, ‘Yup. Yup. That’s right.’ It’s fun to have somebody that—in every situation—he knows what’s going on too.”

4. You’re only 26, but do you feel like you’ve mentally mastered the game?

“I can always learn things, whatever. I’m never going to be perfect til I go 100 percent from the field, never miss a defensive assignment. For the most part, because I watch so much and pay attention to everything, I’m pretty in tuned with what’s going on.”

5. The story of your grandfather’s love for you and vice versa is legendary. If your grandfather could talk to you now, what would he say?

“What would my grandfather say if he was here right now? He’d probably ask me why I’m so far away from home. That’s probably it. He’d ask me why I went so far away from home. He’d be excited. He’d be my biggest fan. He’d probably try to open up a service station out here in L.A. somewhere.”