Over the past couple of decades, Klutch Sports co-founder and agent Rich Paul has become one of the most powerful figures in the NBA. Of course, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is his most notable client, but Paul represents many others and also has a big voice, and has not been afraid to speak up when he feels the need to do so.
Now, Paul has recently begun a new venture, starting a podcast called “Game Over” alonside Max Kellerman. And in the first episode, Paul spoke critically on the Lakers’ foundation and culture, believing the franchise doesn’t always do the best job at paying attention to the small details like other organizations like the Miami Heat do:
“I’m saying when you are a team like the Lakers and others – I think there’s several teams in the league – sometimes when you are that attraction — you’re in L.A., you’re the purple and gold, the history, the legacy, all of that – there’s a couple ways you can lean. But the details within the organization is what’s to be invested in to create these foundational routes that, no matter what… Whether it’s front office depth, whether it’s development with young players, which they’ve done a great job at developing young players, Austin has developed, Kuz was another one, Caruso was another one. But I’m saying holistically, sometimes when you’re the prettiest girl in the room, you don’t necessarily do the detailed things, like you can just put your hair in a ponytail, put a wife beater on and some jeans and go out. But when you’re not the prettiest girl in the room, you have to do all the little details…
“LeBron was always a pro. Regardless of what Miami was, there was never a thing of body fat, being out of shape, none of that. None of those things. Being on time? Nothing. I don’t want to misconstrue that because sometimes that gets misconstrued like oh, he got here and whatever. But, going back to mindset, Pat Riley’s mindset, Pat Riley had a championship mindset so the foundation, ‘It don’t matter how upset you may be, we’re doing this thing this way.’
“I don’t think you have to kowtow to Luka or nobody, you’re the Lakers… Anybody, Luka, LeBron, Kobe, whoever. There’s a world where yes, of course stars are gonna get preferential treatment, that’s one thing. That has nothing to do with the foundation of you as an organization to say no matter what, these things are what they are, they don’t change.
“I would say, if there’s room to grow for the Lakers, it would be in that department. ‘Yes, we are the Lakers and let’s establish this culture. We’ve got 17 championships. Let’s establish this culture of being a championship organization and having these pillars.’ That don’t stop you from having great service and rolling out the red carpet here and there and doing certain things that’s preferential. That’s fine. Everyone’s going to do that, by the way. You get treated how you treat other people, that goes wherever you’re at.”
While Paul obviously isn’t on the inside of the organization, he has certainly built up a close relationship with the Lakers’ inner circle, including Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, so he would certainly have a decent amount of knowledge on their inner workings.
The Lakers remain one of the true premier franchises in all of sports with their brand being one of the most recognizable around the world. The accuracy of Paul’s assessment of the Lakers is unclear, but with Mark Walter now taking over as owner, this organization will have the means to handle everything, big and small, that will come their way.
Rich Paul doesn’t believe Lakers are championship contenders as currently constructed
That wasn’t the only thing Rich Paul spoke about when it comes to the Lakers as he also discussed his belief that the roster, as currently constructed, is not championship material.
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