“Majority of my life, I’ve been missing things” – Chris Paul gets emotional about the harsh reality of being a professional athlete
Becoming a professional at anything has never been easy, let alone as an athlete.
For former NBA legend Chris Paul, although the journey to the NBA and becoming one of the most prominent point guards was far from easy, it was worth it because he didn’t see himself any other way and knew what he wanted to do when he grew up.
Advertisement
While many think the endless work ethic and discipline are the most grueling parts of the journey, the emotional toll of isolation and social sacrifice is likely the heaviest burden a rising athlete can carry, which grows even more once they succeed.
They often miss out on various gatherings, from birthdays to holiday celebrations, due to their sport’s strict schedules, which can lower an already small circle of friends because they have zero energy to attend standard hangouts.
Being a pro comes with different expectations
The chances of becoming an NBA player out of high school sit at an incredibly low 0.03 percent. So, it isn’t surprising that athletes have “tunnel vision” when it comes to their craft. If they aren’t single-minded and focused on basketball, they don’t stand a chance of making it to the professional level.
Advertisement
However, while the cost of making it to the top is known from the beginning, the reality of it hits harder later, when it’s already too late.
“Any time you look at a video, an old video, what you’re going to look for? Probably going to look for you, right,” said Paul when looking at an old video of his late grandpa’s birthday. “So, I’m looking at the video, and I’m like, ‘Dang, where am I?’ I probably brought papa to surprise him because I always was with him. During the speech, my brother says, ‘I know Chris would say this if he was here.'”
“So, I called my mom, and I said, ‘Mom, where was I?’ She said what month it was and she said you were probably at an AAU tournament. Right? Playing travel basketball. That’s when it hit me. At the time, I was watching this video while I was in Arizona, where I live without my wife and my kids for the last four years,” he added.
Advertisement
Sacrificing everyday experiences, let alone those involving family, leaves many athletes disconnected from the rest of the world. Although the pain is felt at the exact moment, it begins to increase as time passes by.
“That’s when it hit me that for the majority of my life, I’ve been missing things. Like just constantly missing things and striving to be like the best player that you can be,” CP3 added.
Related: Jimmy Butler once rejected paying more than $55,000 a month for child support: “Mother is not entitled to live as if she is married to an NBA player”
Advertisement
Paul didn’t have an average career, unlike most
Although he didn’t win a championship, which he so desperately desired, Paul had a long and legendary 21-year career, as he is regarded as one of the most prominent point guards in the NBA’s history.
The accolades speak for themselves: 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, two-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time assist leader, six-time steals leader and the first player to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists.
Advertisement
While those accomplishments are extraordinary by any standard, NBA history tends to judge greatness differently. Without a championship ring, many don’t consider Paul’s career a complete success, highlighting the harsh reality of life as a professional athlete.
It doesn’t matter how many hours you put in or how many sacrifices you make; it doesn’t guarantee you will succeed, which can make those misses sting even more.
Related: “I think about him every day” – Michael Jordan reveals what he remembers most about his father
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
