With the NBA season fast approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers have already made headlines as LeBron James and his son, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/bronny-james">Bronny James</a>, became the first father-son duo to play together in the league. Recently, Rich Paul, who represents both LeBron and Bronny, opened up about the younger James’ decision to enter the NBA.



Despite some questioning the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Lakers</a>’ decision to draft Bronny, Paul emphasized that Bronny’s choice was entirely his own and that there was no external pressure pushing him to go pro.



“Nobody pressured Bronny to go pro,” Paul told ESPN. “Bronny had the option to stay at USC, to transfer to another school, or to turn pro.”



Paul continued by praising Bronny’s maturity in making such a monumental decision. “We should be looking at this kid and saying, ‘Man, that’s admirable,’” Paul said. “But because people are watching him with one eye on him and one eye on his dad, their critiques are shaped by their feelings about LeBron—good, bad, or indifferent. He’s judged differently because of that.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241008_BUS_247965_GettyImages-2177177005-1024x683_1f7ef5b3.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=683" alt="" class="wp-image-247982" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2177177005-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2177177005-300x200.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2177177005-768x512.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2177177005-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2177177005-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers sets a screen for Bronny James #9 against Tyus Jones #21 of the Phoenix Suns. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Addressing accusations of nepotism surrounding the Lakers’ selection of Bronny, Paul brushed off the noise. “It’s all about how it’s handled,” he remarked. “If it’s handled the right way… beautiful. And if anyone can handle it, it’s him. I told Bronny, it’s admirable that you’re choosing to go through this process. You don’t have to do this.”


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<h2>Anthony Davis on Bronny’s first NBA games</h2>



After the Lakers’ narrow 118-114 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns, teammate <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a> weighed in on Bronny’s debut performances. Speaking with Spectrum SportsNet, Davis praised Bronny’s defensive tenacity and growth on the court.



“He’s tough,” Davis said. “Obviously, he’s defensive-minded. He made some great blocks in Game 1. His physicality shows, and he’s really good at getting over screens. He’s active with his hands, causing deflections and steals. But he’s still learning.”


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Davis added, “He’s still figuring things out. We have to remember that he’s a rookie and that the style of play in the league is different. But I love what I’m seeing from him, especially on the defensive end.”



Although Bronny’s preseason stats haven’t jumped off the page—he’s currently averaging 1.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game on 14.3% shooting—his defensive impact has caught the attention of coaches and teammates alike.

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NBA News: Rich Paul gets real about Lakers’ Bronny James’ decision to become professional - Bolavip US

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The never-ending debate on whether <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> or <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> is the greatest basketball player of all time continues to make headlines. This time, it was Rich Paul who shared his take on this subject.



Unsurprisingly, the founder of Klutch Sports Group claims the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> superstar is the GOAT. The King is not only his longtime friend, but also his most famous client.



However, Paul didn’t limit his answer to his relationship with James. In an appearance on the Gil’s Arena show, he pointed out that MJ didn’t have to endure comparisons with another legend like LeBron does, and also mentioned how different the media were in the 90s.



<h2>Rich Paul explains why LeBron, not MJ, is the GOAT</h2>



“Mike transcended the game. When Kobe came, Kobe was a silhouette of Mike. That’s everything, which is great. But LeBron is the first player to have to deal with a 24/7, 365 news cycle of sports and opinions from those that’s not even capable or carry the expertise to give a valid opinion,” Paul said.



“In addition to, ‘I’m not really gonna do it how y’all want me to do. I’m going to decide how I wanna do it.’ We all know that don’t go over well, right? And so then, you have this environment in this sports society that’s created and so now you have to root against. That’s something Mike never had to deal with because his hardest critic was probably, Peter Vecsey.



“I just think LeBron’s antlers is in platinum and Michael Jordan’s may be in gold. Why? Because he had to be compared to Mike. Who did Mike have to be compared to?”



<h2>How many rings has LeBron James won?</h2>



LeBron James has won four NBA championships so far.



The King won two rings with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 before leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first ever championship in 2016. In 2020, he was crowned with the Los Angeles Lakers.


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<h2>How many rings has Michael Jordan won?</h2>



Michael Jordan has won six NBA championships, all of them with the Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).

Rich Paul's eye-opening take on why LeBron is the GOAT over Jordan

Rich Paul on why LeBron James is the GOAT instead of Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

Rich Paul expands on why LeBron James is the GOAT instead of Michael Jordan

For years, people have talked about who’s the greatest player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history. And while most people will agree that <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Jordan</a> should lead the voting, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion.



That includes ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith, who has addressed this subject multiple times. Per him, Jordan is the undisputed GOAT, but LeBron is a close second.



That’s why superagent Rich Paul claimed he was disrespecting the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>star, to which Smith didn’t mince his words when firing back at the Klutch Sports CEO.



<h2>Stephen A. Smith Puts Rich Paul On Blast</h2>



“I got him as the second-best player in the history of basketball,” Smith said. “I got him, ahead of Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I got him behind no one but (Michael) Jordan and I said to Mr. Chirper himself, Rich Paul – my boy – and I said, you act like that’s an insult. This dude [said] ‘It is an insult.’ I said ‘Get the f*** out of my face.&apos;”



“Exactly what I said to him,” Smith added. “I don’t want to talk to you no more. When you gonna treat me like I’m disrespecting a man by calling him, in the history of the game that started in 1947, you gonna tell me that I’m disrespecting a man by having him No. 2 all-time, you’ve lost your damn mind. I’m not talking to you.”


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Simply put, you’re not going to intimidate Stephen A. Smith. He’s gonna tell it as it is, and having James as a close second, considering how many legends have played this game, is far from disrespectful.

Stephen A. Smith rips LeBron James' agent over alleged disrespect

Stephen A. Smith rips LeBron James' agent over alleged disrespect - Bolavip US

Following the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>‘ elimination from the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> playoffs at the hands of eventual champions Denver Nuggets, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> shockingly suggested he would contemplate retirement this offseason.



Of course, his comments made a lot of noise in the basketball community, but one could understand him. After all, he’s been in the league for 20 years now, and the last few seasons have been exhausting. 



However, it’s also true that it would be a shame for him to retire just when the Lakers are getting back on their feet. Fortunately, James’ agent Rich Paul let fans know his client and close friend might be preparing to come back for a 21st season.



<h2>LeBron James would be back next season</h2>



In an appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio, Paul said he sees James playing well over his 40s, and he also revealed that The King texted him shortly after the loss to the Nuggets and looked ‘motivated to get back there’.



“What does that put him at, five or six more years? He’s one guy that I’m not gonna say no about. I think it’s important to understand what really motivates him. I know it, obviously I’ve been around him for so long I can probably tell you what his day probably looks like without even talking to him. And as long as his mind is there, as long as he’s still excited about playing the game, in addition to the health, absolutely,” Paul said, via Lakers Nation. “I always tease him I say, ‘If your athleticism went away, you’d just be Karl Malone it’s fine. You can pick-and-pop, shoot the jumper, make the right read.’ He can literally play for as long as he wants to and at this point obviously he’s not playing for finances, he’s playing because he loves the game.



“I think this summer, we saw how the season ended. We saw them basically trying to make the playoffs for two and a half months. And then to get to the Western Conference Finals, which was unbelievable in itself, but for someone who’s always playing for championships it wasn’t obviously good enough. But then you saw how he ended the season and him making the comment ‘having a lot to think about,’ and then two weeks later he’s texting me because he’s motivated to get back out there. So that’s the roller coaster that you go on when you’ve been someone who has come in this league with such high expectations and exceeded them.



“… He’s had an unbelievable journey and I’m impressed with the fact that he still loves it, I really am. It’s a sight to see and I think people will miss him when he does stop playing, obviously the talk shows will have a ton of things to talk about, or maybe not. But you just never know, you really never know. So I just try and enjoy every moment.”


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The Lakers have been busy this offseason trying to improve the team, and they seem to count on James for next season. Time will tell us, but even at 38, it might be a little early for The King to call it a career.

NBA Rumors: Rich Paul suggests LeBron James may come back to Lakers despite retirement speculation - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Rich Paul suggests LeBron James may come back to Lakers despite retirement speculation

Rich Paul has become one of the most infamous figures around the NBA. Well-known for his lifelong friendship with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a>, he represents some of the most prominent players in the league, including Anthony Davis and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/charles-barkley-blasts-ben-simmons-over-alleged-trade-request-20210903-0007.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons.</a>
Paul is feared around front offices because of the way he acts. Somehow, someway, he’s going to make sure that his players get traded to a big-market team, regardless of their contractual obligations or even the trade package the said team can offer in return.
That’s why Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke on Ben Simmons’ current situation, hoping that the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/philadelphia-76ers-t102083" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sixers</a> stand up to Paul and don’t cave in to his demands the same way the Pelicans did with the Anthony Davis trade.
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<h2>Charles Barkley Criticizes Klutch Sports And Rich Paul</h2>
“You know how that group works,” Barkley said. “They try to trade their players to where they want to. [The Lakers] had better deals from Boston and I think maybe New York. But they’re like ‘no, he’s gonna go to LA and gonna play with LeBron or he’s not going to play.’
“They just bullied the league,” Barkley added. “At some point, a team of the league got to stand up and say, ‘wait a minute, I paid your guy. You can’t bully me to trade him and me taking some trash back’. So, I’m hoping somebody in the Sixers organization got some stones.”
Barkley is completely right this time. The players have way too much leverage nowadays and hurt the league’s competitive balance by forcing their ways out of their teams. It’s ok if you want to go, but you don’t get to choose where to play.
It’s not unusual to see superstars teaming up to win a ring, and it’s fair to some exempt. But a contending team shouldn’t get a superstar in return for spare parts. They should pay a fair price for them, regardless of what the player or Rich Paul want.

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Rich Paul

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Charles Barkley blasts Rich Paul, sends the Sixers a strong message