As the ultra-successful agent of Akron native LeBron James and many other NBA players, Rich Paul knows how to read the room, and it's an important quality to have as the James sweepstakes reaches three weeks in duration.
On the "Game Over" podcast Paul co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Paul acknowledged a reality of James' free agency. When James eventually chooses his next team, the other franchises vying for him — and their fan bases — will be left disappointed to varying degrees. In an apparent effort to preemptively soften the blow, Paul wanted to make it known neither he nor James have been "leading on" teams by intentionally creating false hope.
"We've done this purposefully that there's no leading on for anybody," Paul said during an episode of his podcast released on Monday, July 20. "I've had everyone from ownership to general managers and presidents of teams, they've all asked, 'Is there any more we should be doing? What else could we do?' So on and so forth, and it's been, 'No, you've done all you needed to do, and that's it, right?' So, there's no leading on for anybody in that capacity."
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are widely considered the top contenders to win the James sweepstakes. The competition for James' services tipped off after Paul informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 the NBA's all-time leading scorer would leave LA in free agency after spending the past eight seasons there.
Since then, speculation about which team the 41-year-old James will choose has been relentless. The guesswork has also extended to when James will render a verdict.
#paul
On the "Game Over" podcast Paul co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Paul acknowledged a reality of James' free agency. When James eventually chooses his next team, the other franchises vying for him — and their fan bases — will be left disappointed to varying degrees. In an apparent effort to preemptively soften the blow, Paul wanted to make it known neither he nor James have been "leading on" teams by intentionally creating false hope.
"We've done this purposefully that there's no leading on for anybody," Paul said during an episode of his podcast released on Monday, July 20. "I've had everyone from ownership to general managers and presidents of teams, they've all asked, 'Is there any more we should be doing? What else could we do?' So on and so forth, and it's been, 'No, you've done all you needed to do, and that's it, right?' So, there's no leading on for anybody in that capacity."
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are widely considered the top contenders to win the James sweepstakes. The competition for James' services tipped off after Paul informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 the NBA's all-time leading scorer would leave LA in free agency after spending the past eight seasons there.
Since then, speculation about which team the 41-year-old James will choose has been relentless. The guesswork has also extended to when James will render a verdict.
#paul
4 months ago
