LA Clippers star Chris Paul covers the October special issue of GQ magazine where he talks about the importance of family and how always being the short guy made him a leader.  Deets and pic of the cutie inside.....

Basketball superstar Chris Paul covers the latest issue of GQ (he's one of three covers starring Denzel Washington and Javier Bardem) where inside, he invites readers to his parents 30th wedding anniversary!  He talks up the importance of family (he and wife Jada just welcomed their second kiddie this summer) and having a great support system.  And also reveals how his height has played a large role in the man he has become.  Here are the highlights:

On the positive aspects of being short:

"I've been fortunate to be short my entire life. There's only one position I've ever had to play, and that's point guard. So I've always had to be that leader. And that was my job: you know, to talk."

On his negative outburst resulting from Lakers player Pau Gasol "sonning" him:

"We call that sonnin', Like when I take Li'l Chris to the bathroom, I'll walk with my hand on his head. That's my son. You know what I mean? I understand that Gasol is that tall, but don't do to me what I do to my son."

On being a people person:

"I'm a big-time people person, too. Like, I love people. I hate to be by myself." He repeats the phrase to himself, quieter each time: "I hate to be by myself. I hate to be by myself. I hate to be by myself."

On the importance of family:

"I realize that I'm not going to be doing interviews for the cover of GQ for the rest of my life, know what I mean? I'm on TV because I play basketball really well. But when all this is over with—say something crazy happens, God forbid, and I can't perform anymore. All those people that were in there? They're still gonna be there."

Our innocent crush on Mr. Paul is still in tact...

Photos via GQ