The Katrina aftermath.

In his Dime #36 cover feature, Chris Paul talked about his role as one of the preeminent public figures in rebuilding New Orleans. “I think the fact that I am playing in New Orleans is a blessing,” CP said in his interview with our Editorial Director, Pat Cassidy. “Everything happens for a reason and there is a reason that God placed me in New Orleans. That’s a city that needs, you know, a lot of different things … and not just monetary things. It’s been years since the hurricane, but people still need to care and understand what’s going on.”

Last month, when some of the best high school players in America (Lance Stephenson, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Dexter Strickland, etc.) were in New Orleans for the adidas Nations Basketball Experience (Dime #34, #36), they — along with fellow ballplayers from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, saw Hurricane Katrina’s damage up-close when they were taken on a tour of the city’s 9th Ward, which was virtually destroyed by Katrina. The high school stars also helped run a free youth clinic in the city’s 7th Ward along with some D-1 college players like UCLA’s Kevin Love and Indiana’s Eric Gordon.

Dexter Strickland

Nations coach Paul Silas.

UCLA’s Kevin Love sticking N.O.’s finest.