Phoenix Suns 'Fun Facts': Meet Chris Paul, epitome of 'Can't Give Up Now'

Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
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They said he was done.

Chris Paul thought otherwise.

The Republic continues its “Fun Facts” series with the Phoenix Suns with Paul, the 12-time All-Star who explained why he has been writing “Can’t Give Up Now” on his sneakers before every game.

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Oct 22, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) in the first half at Staples Center.
Oct 22, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) in the first half at Staples Center.

Name: Chris Paul

Position: PG

Age: 36

NBA season: 17th

Twitter: @CP3

Instagram: @cp3

Fun fact: "Can't Give Up Now."

Q: When did you start writing ‘Can’t Give Up Now” on your shoes?

CP: I started writing it on my shoes after I got traded from Houston to OKC (Oklahoma City in 2019).”

Q: Can you elaborate on that please?

CP: “That next morning, after I got traded, I went to go work out with one of my AAU kids, Collin Sexton.”

Sexton now plays for the Cavaliers.

Related: Suns look to address rebounding issues in Game 2

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton (2) and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) vie for a jump ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Phoenix. The Suns won 101-92. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton (2) and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) vie for a jump ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Phoenix. The Suns won 101-92. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

CP: “One of the first songs I heard in the car was ‘Can’t Give Up Now,” by Mary Mary. If you listen to the lyrics of that song, it just meant a lot to me when I heard that song. So that’s why I write it on my shoes.”

Mary Mary is a Grammy award-winning contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell.

The chorus to the song from "Thankful," a 2000 release, goes as follows:

I just can't give up now.

I've come too far from where I started from.

Nobody told me.

The road would be easy.

And I don't believe He's brought me this far.

To leave me.

NBA guard Chris Paul wearing customized FAMU sneakers.
NBA guard Chris Paul wearing customized FAMU sneakers.

Critics felt Paul was on the downside of his career after that trade, but he led OKC to the playoffs and returned to All-Star status that 2019-20 season.

Traded the following season to Phoenix, Paul led the Suns to the NBA Finals in his first year there.

More: NBA great Chris Paul sets record while wearing customized FAMU sneakers

The Suns finished this season with the league’s best record. Now Paul enters the 2022 postseason with perhaps his best chance to win an NBA championship.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns 'Fun Facts': 'Can't Give Up Now' song inspires Chris Paul