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The athlete-entrepreneur is also embarking a new philanthropic venture with Turner Impact Capital.

Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul Shares How He Got To 6 Million Instagram Followers

NBA star
Chris Paul (
@cp3), one of many athletes on Instagram, has 6.2 million followers. Paul isn’t afraid to use Instagram to own his gaffes. After Steph Curry knocked him off his feet, Paul posted a pic his pal Kevin Hart sent him, featuring Paul’s falling form Photoshopped onto a Twister mat—and the image garnered nearly 20,000 comments. “I’m always trying to give people insight that we’re more than just athletes,” Paul says.

Photo: Stephanie Gonot

BY P. Claire Dodson3 minute read

On the court, Chris Paul is a force for the Los Angeles Clippers, recently returning from a thumb injury to put up double-digit points in back-to-back games. On Instagram, Paul is similarly competitive—racking up 6.2 million followers by being able to laugh at his mistakes (and buddy Kevin Hart’s relentless mocking). Back in 2015, for example, Paul was knocked to the ground by a fierce crossover from Steph Curry. Hart, of course, sent Paul a meme of the shot, his body bent over a Twister board.

These kinds of hijinks make Paul’s Instagram feel like a sort of playground, for Hart and for Paul’s kids, including the AAU youth teams he works with. Fast Company spoke with Paul about his Instagram strategies and his new philanthropic opportunity with real estate investment firm Turner Impact Capital.

How do you use Instagram? What kinds of things do you post?

With Instagram the people you enjoy following the most are people who are authentic. For me a lot of times there’s a lot of things surrounding my family and my kids, what’s going on in my life. Most of the stuff I do basketball-wise people get an opportunity to see at the games or on ESPN. I’m always trying to show people that we’re more than just athletes. We do normal things like everybody else. I take my kids to school and pick them up like everybody else.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. Claire Dodson is the senior culture editor at Teen Vogue and has written for Fast Company, The New York Times, Village Voice, Nashville Scene, and more. More


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