Rumors

According to Paul, he experiences the people’s emotions towards his close friend, especially when they try to steer potential clients away from him just because he’s “LeBron’s guy.” “It’s a deeper thing,” he said on “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul.” “I feel the effects of it because I’ve had NBA current players and former players involve themselves in a recruiting process with a kid,” he continued. “It’s not their son — and purposely push a kid to a different agency because of their disdain for LeBron James.” “And I’m his guy. So I know what happens and what’s to be true,” Paul added.

basketballnetwork.net

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul on why the media doesn’t criticize Nikola Jokic like they do LeBron: “The reason you don’t hear a lot of conversation about Jokic, is because I don’t believe people are happy to see Jokic lose. When LeBron loses, people are happy to see him lose. Especially his peers. Guys that played in the league who have platforms today, for different reasons, it’s extra. They are happy to see him lose.” (Via Game Over)

x.com

Rich Paul says the Lakers should be delighted LeBron decided to play for them 👀 “When you have a player like LeBron James, you keep that guy a part of your organization. The Lakers should be delighted that he played them, number 1. Also, they should be doing everything they can to make sure he’s a part of that organization going forward”

x.com

Adam Aaronson: John Calipari and Rich Paul are both here for Sixers-Celtics Game 3.

bsky.app

For a player of his stature, one who has been relentlessly recruited for the entirety of his storied career, this was a notable shift. What’s more, there was the now-infamous statement from James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who questioned whether the Lakers were willing to build a championship contender before James’ playing days were done. An ESPN report in late January only made matters worse, as it highlighted the sometimes-difficult dynamics between James and longtime owner Jeanie Buss. “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” Buss told The Athletic in response to the ESPN story. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”

New York Times

Trading Antetokounmpo could give the Bucks the draft assets and young players they need to build a contending team from scratch. But even then, Paul doesn't believe that both sides are necessarily better off being apart. “Let me tell you something, and I said this before, speaking of the lawn, the grass isn’t always greener,” Paul told Kellerman.

Clutch Points

He also has Darius Garland, a new, in-his-prime point guard to build with, not just manage. “Having a young point guard under my tutelage is the first time I’ve really had it since Kyrie (Irving),” Lue said. “It’s gonna be fun.” That distinction matters most with Garland. After Tyronn Lue was fired by the Cavaliers in 2018, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul introduced him to Garland, then just 19 and newly drafted. They crossed paths again months later at a Las Vegas comedy show during Garland’s first NBA Summer League. “We went to the Dave Chappelle show in Vegas, and we just hit it off right there,” Garland told The Athletic. “It just happened naturally, really.”

New York Times

Anthony Davis on trade to Lakers: It was tough though because when Rich Paul was telling me like you got to go to the media… and I never talked about this by the way. You’re getting the first clues. I've never spoken to anybody about this. Draymond Green: Appreciated. Davis: When Rich told me like you have to go and say I was like no, hell no. Be a villain? man… change teams? I was scared. Like I didn't at first I didn't want to be traded cuz I'm like change is change is different man. Change is hard. I started doubting myself like man I know I can do in New Orleans. I'm going to get all the balls. I'm about to go play with LeBron, spotlight. I’m gonna play with Rondo. Like I'm about to play with all these players in LA… I'm about to go play with some guys. And it's like I am I ready for that? I wasn't sure, you know, so I'm like, man, I don't know. Let's figure this out over here, you know? I hit Bron like, bro, you want to come over here? Like everybody trying to figure it out so I didn't have to leave. So because I was comfortable, and I'm glad I did make the make the change, but that sh*t was tough when he was telling me what I had to do, and I was like, man, but at the day, I had to grow up and do what's best for me and let the rest take care of itself. Green: So Ja Morant gets drafted number one instead of Zion and you're probably still a New Orleans Pelican. Davis: I think. Yep. I’d probably still be in New Orleans. Green: And you asked David Griffin to draft Ja Morant, and he didn’t.

YouTube

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul also says LeBron James doesn’t enjoy being in his hometown Akron, Ohio after his comments about Memphis: “Guess where else LeBron don’t want to be? AKRON! He’s from there! He don’t want to be there, he just outgrew it. Which is fine”

Twitter

But for the key stakeholders, the future seems to be clearing up a bit. And for Draymond, that means he and his agent Rich Paul are picturing a possible new deal — declining Draymond’s player-option for $27.7 million next season and extending for a few more years, presumably at a lower annual salary. To take this longer. To keep going. To never give up or walk out until it might be past time to give up. “Rich and I discussed it a couple months ago briefly,” Draymond said. “We haven’t talked much about it because we don’t deal with those things until the offseason. But I think in an ideal world, and again, this is me talking without me talking to my representation so Rich will probably kill me. But in an ideal world, I think the best path would be to decline and extend. If I had it my way, that would be the best path forward.”

San Francisco Standard

Michael Scotto: Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on @YESNetwork

Twitter

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul shuts down the recent reports of LeBron James future teams he might play for: “There’s no truth to any of it. First of all, I don’t know what’s happening. He don’t know either! We don’t even talk about it… Just enjoy the moment. The man is playing minutes with his son. Meaningful minutes! The Lakers are 12-1 and playing well, why are you talking about some stuff for next year? I get you have to talk about it but it’s like oh my god, nobody knows! I don’t care what article is written, I don’t care what tweet is out there, nobody knows anything.” (Via Game Over)

x.com

Paul, who represents Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has grabbed attention since launching his podcast with former ESPN host Max Kellerman, with many pointing out the conflict of interest. On the latest episode of “Game Over,” Paul made his true feelings known about having a so-called Big Three in the NBA. “I just think, we talk about the Big Three, right? The Big Three has evolved. The Big Three is not three big-name players. Today’s Big Three is president/general manager, coach, and star player in the NBA. That’s where the Big Three is focused on. When you have that, it kind of spreads throughout the rest of the team,” said Paul.

Clutch Points

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul on the narrative that the Lakers are better without LeBron: “You hear all the nonsense about the team being better without LeBron, I never seen a team in my life that would be better without LeBron James…. You have to factor in his presence. Most guys who step on the floor with LeBron James, are in awe” (Via Game Over)

x.com