Earlier this offseason, nine-time All-Star Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets agreed to the terms of a four-year, $160 million max deal. Now, in the aftermath of his big pay day, Paul has decided to give back to his college alma mater, Wake Forest.
On Tuesday morning, Wake Forest’s Athletic Director, Ron Wellman, revealed that Paul has donated $2.5 million to the Demon Deacons basketball program. As a result of Paul’s charity, the school has decided to name the men’s locker room in his honor.
BREAKING: Wake AD Ron Wellman announces a $2.5 million investment by Chris Paul into Wake Forest Basketball. pic.twitter.com/Fn6AyhUBcD
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) August 7, 2018
“With this gift, Chris not only shows his generosity but his continued passion for Wake Forest and we are grateful to continue to have him involved with our program,” Wake Forest coach Danny Manning said in a statement.
Paul, now 33 years of age, hails from Winston Salem, NC. He played two seasons with Wake Forest, where he earned a consensus All-American nod in 2005. As a result of his outstanding collegiate career, the university elected to retire his No. 3 jersey in 2013.
“Giving back has always been important to my family and me, and Wake Forest is part of my family,” Paul told Katie Neal of wfu.edu. “The recent investments towards improving Wake Forest Athletics are amazing, and now is the time to give back in a meaningful way.”
“The locker room transformation project inspired me, because that’s where players build relationships and create a unifying camaraderie that is the foundation of success on the court,” Paul added. “Forming lifelong friendships with your teammates is one of the most rewarding aspects of sports.”
Paul played in 58 games with the Rockets last season, racking up averages of 18.6 points on 46.0 percent shooting from the field (38.0 percent from beyond the arc), 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 31.8 minutes per outing.
“Chris honors those who have inspired him by doing the same for many others,” said Wake Forest president Nathan O. Hatch. “I admire his leadership in the spirit of Pro Humanitate and am grateful for his unwavering commitment to his alma mater and our community.”
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