A lifelong love. Chris Paul‘s relationship with Jada Paul (née Crawley) has stood the test of time — after all, they began dating as students at rival high schools.
“We met in high school. I’m a year older than him, so in high school it wasn’t cool to be a senior dating a junior,” the fashion designer told xoNecole in June 2014, before the NBA star explained that he asked a mutual friend to set them up.
He recalled: “I asked her friend if she would introduce me [to Jada] and here were are, eleven years later.” The duo also attended Wake Forest University together before Chris was drafted into the NBA in 2005.
Nearly one decade after they first met, the twosome tied the knot in their home state of North Carolina in September 2011. “Our relationship has been a progression,” Jada told Essence magazine at the time. “I feel safe with Chris. He’s very protective.”
The former Los Angeles Clippers player was equally as effusive about his partner, telling the outlet, “I truly love Jada. She has been there for the ups and the downs. Basketball isn’t going to last forever. [But] Jada and I love spending time with each other, genuinely.”
At their star-studded wedding — which was attended by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart, among others — the pair made sure to celebrate their son, Chris Jr., who was born two years earlier. “We never knew it was possible to love someone as much as we love each other until you came along,” Chris and Jada wrote in a message to their little one in their wedding program.
Six years after the big day, Chris and Jada, who welcomed daughter Camryn in August 2012, revealed that they were still devoted to one another with a pair of sweet anniversary posts. “6 years down and I still feel like the luckiest man in the world to call you MY WIFE!!!! #HadToGetThatLentOffForHer #ItsGoodForHandStrength #GoodGame,” Phoenix Suns player gushed via Instagram in September 2017.
Jada, for her part, described her husband as her “fav for life” in an Instagram post of her own, adding that they would stick together for “the good, the bad and everything in between.”
In June 2022, she praised Chris as a father and partner by sharing a goofy video of him with the family over the years. “Happy Father’s Day to one of the best to ever do it!” Jada wrote via Instagram at the time. “You never fail to amaze me and the kids and I are forever grateful! I love you @cp3 and and I thank you for being my partner in parenting crime lol. 💕”
Keep scrolling to see the complete timeline of Chris and Jada Paul’s epic romance:
A lifelong love. Chris Paul‘s relationship with Jada Paul (née Crawley) has stood the test of time — after all, they began dating as students at rival high schools.
“We met in high school. I’m a year older than him, so in high school it wasn’t cool to be a senior dating a junior,” the fashion designer told xoNecole in June 2014, before the NBA star explained that he asked a mutual friend to set them up.
He recalled: “I asked her friend if she would introduce me [to Jada] and here were are, eleven years later.” The duo also attended Wake Forest University together before Chris was drafted into the NBA in 2005.
Nearly one decade after they first met, the twosome tied the knot in their home state of North Carolina in September 2011. “Our relationship has been a progression,” Jada told Essence magazine at the time. “I feel safe with Chris. He’s very protective.”
The former Los Angeles Clippers player was equally as effusive about his partner, telling the outlet, “I truly love Jada. She has been there for the ups and the downs. Basketball isn’t going to last forever. [But] Jada and I love spending time with each other, genuinely.”
At their star-studded wedding — which was attended by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart, among others — the pair made sure to celebrate their son, Chris Jr., who was born two years earlier. “We never knew it was possible to love someone as much as we love each other until you came along,” Chris and Jada wrote in a message to their little one in their wedding program.
Six years after the big day, Chris and Jada, who welcomed daughter Camryn in August 2012, revealed that they were still devoted to one another with a pair of sweet anniversary posts. “6 years down and I still feel like the luckiest man in the world to call you MY WIFE!!!! #HadToGetThatLentOffForHer #ItsGoodForHandStrength #GoodGame,” Phoenix Suns player gushed via Instagram in September 2017.
Jada, for her part, described her husband as her “fav for life” in an Instagram post of her own, adding that they would stick together for “the good, the bad and everything in between.”
In June 2022, she praised Chris as a father and partner by sharing a goofy video of him with the family over the years. “Happy Father’s Day to one of the best to ever do it!” Jada wrote via Instagram at the time. “You never fail to amaze me and the kids and I are forever grateful! I love you @cp3 and and I thank you for being my partner in parenting crime lol. 💕”
Keep scrolling to see the complete timeline of Chris and Jada Paul’s epic romance:
Credit: NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Early 2000s
Chris and the entrepreneur met when they were students at rival high schools in their hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After he asked a mutual friend for their number, the two began dating when Jada was a senior and Chris was a junior.
Credit: Nina Prommer/EPA/Shutterstock
2003
The Chris Paul Foundation cofounders both attended Wake Forest University in the early 2000s, although Chris left after his sophomore year to pursue a career in the NBA. He was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans) in 2005.
Credit: Chris Chew/UPI/Shutterstock
May 2009
The couple welcomed son Christopher Emmanuel Paul II — better known as Chris Jr. or “Little Chris” — in May 2009. “Everyone knows I love kids, so now, to actually have my own son? There’s nothing like it,” Chris gushed to Essence i*n September 2011.
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
September 2011
Chris and Jada tied the knot in their home state of North Carolina nearly a decade after they first met. “It was important for us to get married … where we’re from and where we met,” Jada told Essence at the time.
Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock
August 2012
Nearly one year after their wedding, Chris and Jada welcomed daughter Camryn. “I love the beautiful Black young lady you are and even more the one you are becoming!! Daddy loves you forever!!” the athlete gushed about his daughter in August 2022.
Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock
June 2014
The philanthropist joked that Chris “yells at me when I don’t open the door,” while discussing his romantic gestures with xoNecole at the 2014 BET Awards.
The NBA MVP explained, “I’m from the South. You know, it’s ‘Yes ma’am, yes sir,’ and all that stuff. It’s a must. … You gotta say ‘Please’ and all that stuff like that.”
Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock
October 2018
The Pauls made headlines after Chris got into a fight with fellow NBA player Rajon Rondo during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. According to NBC Sports, the bad blood continued into the stands, where Rondo’s girlfriend reportedly shoved Jada. “Chris Paul was still so angry after the game, multiple individuals said, because a member of Rajon Rondo’s family made ‘inappropriate’ comments to Paul’s wife, Jada, in the stands after the altercation,” reporter Jonathan Feigen wrote via Twitter at the time.
Both athletes were suspended, though Rondo was benched for one more game than Paul for throwing the first punch.
Credit: Omar Vega/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
May 2022
Four years later, Chris publicly defended his wife after she and other members of his family were harassed by Dallas Mavericks fans during a game against the Phoenix Suns. Per ESPN, his mother, Robin, and Jada were pushed by a rowdy fan in front of Chris Jr. and Camryn, and Jada was also followed up the aisle when she went to leave.
As the fan in question was escorted out of the arena, Chris was caught on camera yelling, “I’ll see you later!” from the court. He seemingly defended his behavior after the game, writing, “Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families … f—k that!!”
The Mavericks issued a statement following the incident: “It was unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. The Mavericks, along with American Airlines Center, swiftly removed the fan from today’s game.”
Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock
August 2022
Describing her as the family’s “rock,’ the father of two gushed about Jada in August 2022. “For me, I’ve been traveling with games and stuff my kids’ entire lives. You know what I mean? So, my wife has undoubtedly been the rock,” he told People at the time. “She’s been most consistent thing that they’ve known in their lives so she’s their go-to for any and everything.”
