LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 09: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers motions to his teammates during a 111-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on November 9, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

So maybe there’s a reason Cliff Paul wears glasses in the State Farm commercials.

Chris Paul, the Clippers’ all-star point guard, has displayed some of the best court vision in the NBA for years. But his actual vision was not nearly as good. Paul has led the NBA in assists four times, but he would have trouble seeing when he looked over to the bench to get play calls.

“As long as I could see the rim,” he told The Orange County Register, “I felt like I was cool.”

Paul cheated on his eye tests, memorizing the 20/20 and 20/25 lines on the eye chart and reciting them without any issue when tested.

The nine-time All-Star is also a self-admitted hypochondriac, so any type of surgery is a big process for him. That’s why he put off the LASIK for so long even though his father and brother had successful procedures.

This spring, Paul finally decided to give it a shot. He said doctors had to give him two Valiums before the LASIK procedure, and he had multiple panic attacks during the two-week long recovery.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Paul said. “These are your eyes. They get dry. I was stressed out.”

It could just be a coincidence, but Paul is shooting a career-high 45.8% from three-point range this season and averaging a career-best 1.8 turnovers per game.

[The Orange County Register; BDL]

About Jesse Kramer

Jesse is a writer and editor for The Comeback. He has also worked for SI.com and runs The Catch and Shoot, a college basketball website based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow Jesse on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer.