Ever since 2012, LeBron James has taken a chance on his long-time friend, Rich Paul, as his agent.
While many initially questioned James’ decision to be represented by Paul, the latter’s agency, Klutch Sports, turned out to be a huge success, building other big stars like Anthony Davis.
However, given that James is perceived as a powerful figure off the court, there’s a certain perception that Klutch Sports has control over the teams LeBron plays for.
Rich Paul’s Influence on LeBron James and the Lakers
Paul recently set the record straight and clarified the kind of power his agency has over his clients and their teams.
Back in 2018, LeBron shockingly decided to play for a Western Conference team for the first time in his career. James took his talents to the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that had been struggling since the departure of the late Kobe Bryant.
At the time James joined the roster, he was paired with a plethora of young talent such as Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball, all of whom were seen as integral components of the future of the franchise.
However, as time went on, James managed to influence the team’s front office into rebuilding their roster and bringing in more experienced players like Davis, Dwight Howard, and other former NBA All-Stars.
This ultimately led people to think that James and Klutch Sports have the authority to influence the Lakers’ front office decisions. Apparently, that’s not the case, as Paul explained how their dynamics work.
“We never ran the Lakers,” Paul said. “That was never a thing. … We had and continue to have a great partnership with the Lakers, but it’s not like you would think. And by the way, I don’t want that responsibility. Now, for someone in my position, I look at myself as a partner to all teams.”
Rich Paul says Klutch Sports has never called the shots for the Lakers during the LeBron era
“We never ran the lakers… We had and continue to have a great partnership with the Lakers but it’s not like you would think.”
(h/t @NBA__Courtside)pic.twitter.com/omLqAyAPoZ
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 29, 2025
While some may find it difficult to believe, there were reports of James having a strained relationship with the Lakers’ front office last season, as the team neared a blockbuster trade of Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić.
Based on how the current NBA season is going, it’s apparent the Lakers are prioritizing keeping their new franchise cornerstone, Dončić, happy.
