“To bring out the players from these HBCUs, and for AT&T to be behind that, connecting them, that was amazing,” he said. “I had a chance to talk to them about the stage they were going to play on.”
The event is part of a broader effort by both the NBA and its partners to expand exposure and professional pathways for HBCU athletes and students.
A transition moment
Paul’s All-Star appearance came at a moment of transition.
The 40-year-old announced last week that he was retiring after 21 seasons, a career that included 12 All-Star selections, multiple Olympic gold medals, and a long tenure as president of the National Basketball Players Association.
After many years of spending seasons apart from his family, who live in Los Angeles, Paul said he’s looking forward to being more present with his wife and kids.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Paul said. “Getting a chance to be present for my family every day is something I’m looking forward to.”
He expects to remain involved in the sport on the business side, potentially through ownership opportunities or the budding NBA Europe, but his All-Star role offered an early glimpse of how his post-playing career may take shape: at the intersection of brands, community, and the business of the game.
