One of the biggest stories of the Olympics was the plight of LeBron James and Stephen Curry. These two names, pillars of an entire generation, are seeing their NBA careers wane year by year. But, as was apparent in Paris, they still have ample left in the tank.
Olympic Glory, NBA Struggles
LeBron and Curry were the two best players on Team USA throughout the tournament, leading them to a Gold Medal. However, that same level of success has eluded them at the NBA level.
Despite their continued brilliance, their respective teams, the Lakers and Warriors, have struggled, finishing as the 6th seed or worse in the last two seasons. For over a decade, these two superstars have dominated the NBA. They boast 6 MVPs, 8 NBA titles, and genuine consideration for two top-10 spots on any all-time list.
Their talents and careers are far from over, yet the results on the court don’t reflect their greatness. This ongoing struggle is a disservice to their contributions to the sport.
The Blocked Superteam: Rich Paul’s Role
However, there might have been a mutual solution to their problem—a blockbuster team-up. Unfortunately, it didn’t come to pass for one specific reason.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Updates
Rumors swirled last season about a potential collaboration between LeBron and Curry on the Golden State Warriors. This dream scenario could have reshaped the NBA landscape, but it was halted by one man: Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports and LeBron’s lifelong friend and agent.
Marc Stein reported that the deal never progressed far because Paul was adamantly opposed. “League sources say that the reported talks between the teams never got that far, in large part because James’ agent, Rich Paul, was adamantly opposed to the idea of James swapping Southern California for Northern California. Paul implored both teams to scrap the concept, largely because he wanted to insulate James from potential backlash over switching teams for the fourth time in his career.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Updates
For much of his career, LeBron’s propensity to switch teams was viewed as a black mark. Although this practice has become more accepted, a move to join a lifelong rival on a team he faced in four consecutive Finals could have reignited old criticisms.
In that light, it’s understandable why Paul believed the idea might not be in his client’s best interest.
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