Rich Paul: Why LeBron James Chose Los Angeles Lakers over New York Knicks
Many blame the New York Knicks' struggle to land a superstar on either management or the franchise's lack of on-court success. Renowned player agent Rich Paul, however, claims that real estate and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are responsible for perhaps one of the bigger blocks in recent metropolitan memory.
Paul is best known for founding Klutch Sports and representing childhood friend LeBron James. He founded Klutch in 2012 after previously working under current Knicks president Leon Rose at Creative Artists Agency. With Klutch, Paul has overseen two of James' high-profile transfers, including his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and subsequent signing with the Los Angeles Lakers four years later.
True to their star-chasing nature, the Knicks were involved in each instance of James gossip. Throughout his NBA career, James has frequently spoken about his love of playing at the Knicks' home arena Madison Square Garden, which has eternally linked the two sides whenever he's due for a move.
Paul spoke about the move from Cleveland to Los Angeles on the latest edition of Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe's web series "Club Shay Shay," and the Knicks' involvement in the rumors inevitably came about. With James' brand at an all-time high, Paul noted that there were "only so many options" if he opted to leave Cleveland (again).
The Knicks were among them, but Paul hinted that they were quickly ruled out based on past and future endeavors between him and his client: James, who had expressed an interest in engaging with Los Angeles' robust entertainment industry, owned property in Southern California and Paul had dealt with Lakers management with another client, Caldwell-Pope.
James (in white) is guarded by Quentin Grimes during Los Angeles' 2023 visit to Madison Square Garden
Brand Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
"We (weren't) going to New York even though New York was an option," Paul told Sharpe. "But (James) already had a place in Los Angeles and I had the opportunity of spending a year here because I had of KCP here and got to get a better understanding of the organization. (Then-Lakers president) Magic (Johnson) and I talked a lot, I knew (Lakers general manager) Rob (Pelinka) throughout the years, and (James') family wanted to be in LA."
Paul was somewhat wary of joining the Lakers, recalling that James' basketball brand couldn't have been higher after appearing in eight consecutive NBA Finals series between Cleveland and the Miami Heat. At the time of James' arrival, the Lakers were in the midst of a five-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise history.
But Paul believed that a storied squad like the Lakers was the best place for James to further expand his legacy. A championship was expected, but Paul reminded his client that all he needed was one.
"You're coming off that mountaintop. Now you know when to go to LA, it's all about championships," Paul recalled telling James. "But all you need is one. You don't need 15. You don't have the time to do that. But if you can get one ... you know. We made the decision and that was it."
After missing the playoffs in year one, James guided the Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference in 2019-20 before embarking on his fourth championship run that downed Miami in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. While the Knicks have kept an eye on another potential move, the 38-year-old James is back in action with the Lakers this year after pushing them to an unexpected run to last year's conference finals.
James and the Lakers face the Knicks in SoCal on Dec. 18. In the meantime, the Knicks open In-Season Tournament play on Friday night against Milwaukee (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/ESPN).
