New Orleans Hornets starting point guard Chris Paul, also known to many as “CP3”, has been terrorizing defenses all over the NBA since he was drafted number 4 overall in 2005. In his rookie year he led all rookies in points, assists, steals, and minutes, which helped him earn the 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Paul finished the year averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. During his 06 campaign, CP3 rocked the Air Jordan 5 Retros, which people call his PE #1. These shoes are a black-based colorway upper with Paul’s number “3″ stitched on the side in gold and shadowed in teal. The flame on the side of the shoe is also in gold and the icy sole is in a very nice teal blue.

Still hot from his rookie season CP3 he raised his scoring average to 17.3 ppg and also improved his assists to 8.9 per game. He only played 64 games that season because he was hampered by injuries throughout. Although he was not named an All-Star in ’07, Paul was named to replace Steve Nash in the ’07 Skills Challenge during the All-Star Weekend. With a record setting performance in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge he dished out 17 assists and had 9 steals, both records! Instead of sticking with the Air Jordan Retro 5 PE’s, he decided to switch to the Air Jordan Retro 8’s.

In the ’07-’08 season this is where Chris Paul would get his first signature shoe the “CP3.I”. Chris finally emerged as the superstar everyone knew he was, averaging 21.1 ppg, 4 rebounds, league high in steals with 2.71 pg, and also another league high in assists with 11.6 apg! CP3 finished second in MVP voting, losing to Kobe Bryant by a mere 306 votes. He was selected by NBA coaches to play in the ’08 All-Star Game, which was hosted by the city of New Orleans. Paul participated yet again in the All-Star Skills Challenge were he ended up losing in the final round to what people call his rival Deron Williams. Determined to make it to the playoffs for the first time, he led his team to a 56-26 record, which is the best record in New Orleans history, and finished number 2 overall in the Western Conference. In Paul’s first ever NBA playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored 35 points, with an astonishing 24 of them coming in the second half, along with 10 assists and 4 steals. The Hornets ended up eliminating the Mavericks 4-1 for the teams first ever playoff series victory! Up next was the San Antonio Spurs, to which they lost the series 4-3.
These shoes were inspired by Mardi Gras says creator Jason Mayden. The CP3.I feature a white colorway with a “hornets nest” looking Jumpman logo on the outside of the shoe near the heel. Its black and blue sole with yellow stitching make it truly one of a kind. But that is not even the beginning of what makes this shoe so unique! On the outside of the tongue it has Chris Paul’s logo “CP”, and on the inside of the tongue is his initials. On the back heel there is “61XTY” which stands for “Papa Chilly”, along with the laser etched Mardi Gras detail which can be seen throughout the shoe. In the center of the outsole there is an hand stitched “Chris Paul” with another “Papa Chilly” siting on the shank detail. And what shoe would be complete without the star players number on it, on the toe bumper of the shoe is Pauls “3”. These are easily one the best shoes any athlete has had for a debut shoe in their line!

Continuing from his success in the past season Paul finished yet again as the league leader in steals and assists, and still managed to score a career best 22.8 ppg with a career high 50.3% in the ’08-’09 season! He participated in his second straight NBA All-Star Game, starting for the Western Conference All-Stars. CP3 made history on December 17, 2008, where he broke an 22 year old NBA record by registering at least one steal in 106 consecutive games, he set the new record at 108 consecutive games before it ended on Christmas. During this season he was selected the the NBA’s All-Defensive first team, and the All-NBA second team, although that didn’t help him in the MVP voting where he finished 5th, only receiving to 1st place votes. Even though they made the playoffs they would lose to the Denver Nuggets 4-1.
Coming out with his second shoe the “CP3.II” these shoes were available in many colorways. The ones below are the Teal/Black colorways. These shoes still rock the Mardi Gras theme on the heel, but a lot has changed with them. On the side there is no longer a “hornets nest” Jumpman logo, they returned with the original logo. The heel of the shoe in the Mardi Gras design there is a “61” which represents Papa Chilly. They opted to use patent leather, laser graphics, perforated sections, along with a variety of materials and textures.

After somewhat of a rough start to the ’09-’10 season the Hornets fired head coach Byron Scott after a 3-6 record. This year would prove to be a ruff year for Chris, as he would suffer a couple of significant injuries. One of them coming being found from an MRI, the MRI revealed a torn meniscus in his left knee after he tweaked it a couple of times in January. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix it, he was sidelined for nearly eight weeks. Paul missed 25 games and even the ’10 NBA All-Star Game, before his injury he was averaging a league best 11.2 assists per game and 20.4 ppg. On a positive note, he had earned his 3rd All-Star appearance. New Orleans missed the playoffs this year, but what can you do without your star point guard?
Paul’s next shoe the “CP3.III” or also known as the “Mardi Gras” features the black suede base with detailed laser etched graphics from the side panel to the ankle area while it uses black premium leather on the bottom part and heel. With varsity purple accent in the form of lace loops, Jumpman logo on the heel, heel tab, and even the speckled midsole. With another vibrant orion blue color becomes visible on the Jumpman logo on the toe box, shoe laces, inner liner, contrast stitching, and outsole. Also, a maize hint is also present on the tongue and details on the outsole. The CP3.III also features the state’s area code at the tip of each shoe lace.

In this past ’10-’11 season Paul garnished his 4th consecutive All-Star appearance! Although his numbers weren’t his personal best he still averaged a very respectable 15.8 ppg, 9.8 apg, 4.1 rpg, and 2.4 spg. CP found himself encountered with a very horrifying collision against the Cleveland Caviliers, he laid motionless and had to be carried off by a stretcher, and yet he miraculously only missed 2 straight games! When he got back on the court he did not waste any time, against the Sacramento Kings he scored a season high of 33 points, registering 15 assists, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals! The Hornets would later go on to make the playoffs They would end up facing the defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers, and CP3 would make sure he would give them more than enough to handle! Even though they lost the series 4-2, Paul still put up an immpressive 22 ppg, 11.5 apg, 1.8 spg, and 6.7 rpg.
CP3’s latest shoes the “CP3.IV” continue to be one of the best looking and performing shoes out on the market today! The new shoes come with the innovative Podulon suspension system, which is a newer version than the Podular suspension system featured in the Air Jordan XX. This sneaker is designed with quickness in mind which is why it includes lightweight synthetics for highly increased breathability and flex grooves for supreme cutting and stopping. It wouldn’t be a Chris Paul sneaker if he and the designers didn’t work in a few special design elements which honor his past. The external heel graphic honors his grandfather, while the collar is modeled after his favorite Air Jordan, the Air Jordan XIII Low. Paul also insisted on putting a star graphic on the sockliner to represent his attributes of heart, faith, family, leadership, quickness, and community.