P.J. Washington is a protector on the court, defending the paint and the rim — not to mention his teammates — from opponents.
Look no further than last year’s playoffs, when the Dallas Mavericks forward struck his arms-crossed “standing on business” pose. The viral moment served as a message to not only the LA Clippers, but also the rest of the NBA: Washington will defend his teammates no matter the circumstances.
The former Kentucky basketball star doesn’t turn off that switch after the game, because when he walks out of the tunnel and spots his wife and children, he remembers he’s a protector off the court, too.
Washington the basketball player is also Washington the family man. He’s husband to Alisah Chanel and father to 4-year-old P.J. Washington III, 2-year-old Preston, 4-month-old Paxton and Aiden, 8, Chanel’s son from a previous relationship.
He celebrated his fourth Father’s Day on Sunday. Although Washington’s been a dad since 2021, the feeling of adding one more baby to the family hit harder this year.
“It just makes me a lot more responsible,” he told The Dallas Morning News by phone earlier this month. “You always gotta stay on top of things, and they always keep me grounded. Every time I come home, they always have smiles on their faces. Always excited to see me and just happy to have me in their presence.”
By the league’s definition, his six seasons make Washington a veteran. He’s still a rookie dad, but you wouldn’t know it from how comfortable he says he’s become since “Little P.J.” was born.
“I was very nervous, but now I’m a lot more confident,” he said. “I know what to expect. I know what’s next. I pretty much know everything about babies now.”
A little guidance has helped.
“He’s not just a dad by figure,” said his father, Paul Washington Sr. “He actually changes diapers. He puts them to sleep. He takes the baths. He reads them stories. He’s very active with his kids and that’s the same thing that he saw me doing.”
Washington wears the No. 25 because of his father, who was a 6-5 forward at Middle Tennessee State University.
“He was always there for me growing up,” Washington said. “Anything I wanted to do, he tried to make sure I was able to do that.”
Washington plans to make the same sacrifice for his children.
When Paxton was born in February, he was absent for the final two games of the longest road trip of the season, even though the Mavericks were fresh off the most shocking trade in NBA history and a 43-point loss to Cleveland — one Washington also missed because of injury.
“That shows you his priorities,” Paul Sr. told The News. “Some people would be like, ‘Nah, man we have a game.’ No, he wanted to be by his wife.
“You can’t get the birth of your child back, but you can always go back and get 20 and 10.”
Former Kentucky basketball star P.J. Washington, now with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, celebrated his fourth Father’s Day on Sunday. Jerome Miron USA TODAY NETWORK
Father’s influence led to faith-driven path
Washington received his favorite Father’s Day gift from Paul Sr.: a personalized brown leather Bible with his name inscribed in gold. He keeps it inside his locker throughout the season.
Paul Sr. and his former wife, Sherry, wanted their children to make faith a core value, wherever life took them. The family moved from Louisville to St. Louis shortly after Washington’s brother, Spencer, and sister, Alexandria, were born, then stopped in Chicago before settling in Frisco.
As the oldest sibling, Washington developed his protective instincts early, adopting a fatherlike nature when Paul Sr. couldn’t be home because of work. He says his dad set an example of how to prioritize faith and family.
“We were always close to the Lord,” Washington said. “I just want to instill the same value in my kids and let them know God is always there for you. He’s always in your corner, and as long as you praise and worship him, things will be OK. That’s very important in my life, and I want them to have those same qualities and values.”
What that looks like for the Washington family is praying upon waking, before meals and before bedtime and relying on scripture during difficult times. Washington and Chanel also read the Bible to each other as well as to their children.
“Whether you think it or not, they’re getting it,” Paul Sr. said.
His son has his favorite scripture, Proverbs 3: 5-6, written in ink on the right side of his chest. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
“It’s just really significant to me because there’s not much we can really control so there’s no reason for us to worry about anything,” Washington said. “God is all-knowing and He knows what’s best for us so if we trust in His plan, everything will be exactly how it needs to be. That’s what resonates with me the most.”
Blended as one
The Washingtons live as a blended family.
Although Washington’s official title is stepfather to Aiden, the oldest of the bunch, he doesn’t see it that way.
“I just want him to have the same life as if he was my son,” Washington said, adding that Aiden served as best man when he married Chanel in 2023. “He’s just a joy to be around and I just love him so much.”
Washington’s mentality aligns with how Paul Sr.’s stepfather raised him. Paul developed a relationship with his biological father as an adult but maintained a close bond with his stepdad until his passing.
“I don’t believe in stepdads. That’s your child,” Paul Sr. said. “I think P.J. has done a good job of balancing that.”
Washington spoke to the importance of working in tandem with his wife to do what’s best for the kids and create a strong family unit while co-parenting.
“We take everybody’s feelings out of it, and we just try to create the best environment for our kids because that’s what matters to us.
“At the end of the day, they’re going to be here longer than us, and we just want to put them in the right position and show them what love is and what family is.”
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) flexes as he and center Daniel Gafford (21) come off the court during the fourth quarter of an NBA playoff game against Los Angeles Clippers on April 26, 2024. Jerome Miron USA TODAY NETWORK
To Washington, that means protecting them as much as he can. It’s in his nature. It’s why he folded his arms and stared down the Clippers bench — while shielding former teammate Luka Doncic from harm — during last year’s playoffs. It’s why he shoved Jusuf Nurkic, who retaliated against fellow Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, during a game against the Phoenix Suns in December.
And while playing professional basketball is an extreme commitment, it’s temporary. Fatherhood is for a lifetime, long after his hoops career is over.
Washington plans to enjoy it for as long as he can.
“As a kid, you’re like, ‘Man, it takes forever to be an adult.’ But when you’re a parent, it’s like, ‘I have a 4-year-old right now. I have an 8-year-old. I have a 2-year-old and then my newborn is 4 months.’
“Time is ticking really fast. They’re learning at a very high speed and they absorb everything. It’s just a blessing to be part of it.”