Rich Paul came from nothing to become a major sports agent. Even with his relationship with LeBron James opening up doors, Paul was the one who maximized all the opportunities he got. He revealed that there was resentment from other prominent Black agents who weren’t willing to share tips on how to survive in a field dominated by White people.
“I can’t change the color of my skin. As tough as it is with the industry, we make it even tougher on ourselves because there’s still competition… Of course, I didn’t expect white agents to help me, that wasn’t even my expectation. But coming from where I was coming, the game was given to you by older guys. Whether you decided to digest it was on you. Survival. That’s all I know. I gotta give that back. When I started, that wasn’t the case.”
Paul even threw a little shade towards another well-known agency, CAA, where he interned under Leon Rose in the mid-2000s before forming Klutch Sports. Rose is now an executive for the New York Knicks and CAA is one of Klutch Sports’ primary rivals in the sports agency world.
Rich Paul Recently Claimed Black Agents Would Badmouth Him To Players
Paul had already touched upon the things he said to Shannon Sharpe when he appeared on First Take a couple of weeks ago. Paul very candidly said that not only Black agents wouldn’t help him get a foot in the door, but they would also badmouth him to players he was trying to sign.
“No black agents came to me and said, ‘Rich, let me help you, let me show you. Let me help you understand.’ What they did was they went into families and talked bad about me. ‘Oh, he’s just a kid, he’s just LeBron’s friend… Once LeBron’s done, he’s done.'”
Paul has been counted out many times because people assume all his success has come from being a close associate of LeBron James. It’s foolish to even think that. Due to Paul having the talent he has, James has been able to exert control over the basketball world like no athlete before him was able to.
Every player could bankroll a friend’s project of starting an agency, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’d end up building one of the most influential sports agencies in the world. Paul did that and didn’t need LeBron to build that empire. Instead, LeBron got to benefit by leaving a traditional agency and partnering up with one of his best friends, who he knew would always have his interests at heart.
LeBron James Doesn’t Think Rich Paul Is Successful Because Of Him
LeBron James has previously commented on the accusations against Paul that he wouldn’t have been successful without LeBron. While LeBron recognizes the opportunity he created for Paul, he also gives Rich the credit for navigating this world and becoming a greater success than he anticipated.
“It’s disappointing to hear that. And I don’t give people opportunity much and he took way beyond what he even imagined.”
Paul will be one of the most influential men in basketball long after LeBron’s retirement due to his connection with young players around the NBA. Maybe when James transitions to his eventual goal of owning an NBA team, his relationship with Paul will lead to everyone complaining about this a lot more, especially if Paul’s star clients end up wearing the threads of whatever team LeBron gets an ownership stake in.
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