The NBA has never been a stranger to controversy. From flopping accusations against stars like Marcus Smart and LeBron James to coaches like Phil Jackson playing mind games through the media, questionable tactics have long been a part of the league’s drama.
But this time, the controversy doesn’t involve a player or a coach — it revolves around a powerful NBA agent and explosive accusations that have sent shockwaves through the basketball world.
Peja Stojaković Accuses Rich Paul of Bad Trade Tactics
Former Sacramento Kings assistant general manager Peja Stojaković recently made headlines when he accused NBA super-agent Rich Paul of “blackmail” during trade talks involving star guard De’Aaron Fox.
In a revealing appearance on the “NBA Mozzart Podcast,” the former executive didn’t hold back. He claimed that during the negotiations that eventually sent Fox to San Antonio, Paul used bold tactics to ensure his client landed exactly where he wanted.
“It seems there was a directive from his agent, Rich Paul, who played a key role and blackmailed the teams on which player was supposed to get traded there. He brought Fox to the [San Antonio] Spurs, and Zach LaVine, who is his player, brought him to Sacramento.”
“By doing this, he limited Sacramento from a business standpoint, stating that they get a bit more from this trade with Fox if they had the same discussion with some other teams in the NBA,” said Stojaković during the podcast (translated by Sports Illustrated).
Fox, who began his NBA journey with the Kings as the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, had become the face of Sacramento’s franchise over eight seasons. During his time with the Kings, he posted impressive averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.
However, everything changed in February when the Kings pulled the trigger on a blockbuster three-team trade. The deal sent Fox to San Antonio, while the Chicago Bulls shipped LaVine to Sacramento; the Kings also dealt Kevin Huerter, along with multiple draft picks, to complete the complex transaction.
Behind the scenes, though, Paul was orchestrating the move with what Stojaković now alleges were heavy-handed tactics. From a business standpoint, Stojaković believes the Kings were shortchanged in the trade.
But why the Spurs? From the moment trade talks heated up, it was clear that Fox had his eyes set on San Antonio. After the deal was finalized, Fox openly revealed that he was drawn to the Spurs because of their athletic roster and young core.
“I think with the way that they’re built, with the athleticism, the length they have, and also the youth. I just felt like this could be a special team,” Fox said about the Spurs after he was traded. As well, Fox had family ties, with his wife growing up in the San Antonio area.
In his 17 games wearing the Spurs jersey, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds, quickly becoming a key piece in their rebuild.
Sacramento finished the 2024-25 season with a 40-42 record, barely making the play-in tournament, only to be eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, the Spurs wrapped up their season with a 34-48 record, falling short of the postseason but building toward a promising future with Fox.
