NBA Player Chris Paul Goes NUDE For ESPN’s 2019 Body Issue

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — NBA player Chris Paul goes completely NUDE for ESPN‘s 2019 Body Issue.

The  Oklahoma City Thunder point guard was photographed by Gary Land for ESPN.

During his shoot, Paul sat down to talk about how his body — and his game — have changed after 14 years in the league. Below are some excerpts:

What part of your body are you proudest of?
My abs. When I eat, that’s where the weight comes immediately. If I eat french fries, one or two, they go right there.

After 14 years in the league, what keeps you going?
My competitive nature. And my family and my team — all my homies that I grew up with and everybody who supports me. I think when I go out and play, it’s never just about me; it’s about my whole squad. I feel a lot better than I did a few years ago, and that’s just from experience, learning and never just being satisfied. I think one of the biggest issues with a lot of people is they get in this league and they get complacent, and they’re like, “Oh, I’m here. I’ll just be here.” No. There’s somebody coming to try to take your job. And for me, that’s not an option. You’re not taking my job. No.

How has your body changed since you entered the NBA?
Oh man. It’s changed dramatically. My rookie year there was a McDonald’s right by where we practiced, and I’d stop and get a McGriddle combo every day. Every day. And I’d usually get an extra hash brown and try to get a bigger orange juice. And I would get home, and my brother and I would get Chick-fil-A. As long as it wasn’t Sunday, we would get Chick-fil-A on the way home. And then we would usually order pizza at night. We didn’t know any different. We were young, first time living away from home. But everything’s a lot different now. Some of the biggest choices I make daily are what I put into my body.

Why did you decide to go vegan?
I wanted to try it. Any great athlete is always looking for an edge, so I said, let me see how this affects my performance. Right now it’s just the offseason, but hopefully I can stick it out into the regular season.

Head over to ESPN to read the full cover story.

Photos Credit: Gary Land for ESPN