Rich Paul Rejects Notion Lakers Are Stronger Without LeBron James
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Klutch Sports co-founder Rich Paul dismissed recent chatter suggesting the Los Angeles Lakers perform better when LeBron James is off the court.
During the latest episode of the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, released this week, Paul said he has “never seen a team in my life that would be better without LeBron James.” He argued that even at age 40, James’ presence, playmaking and on-court gravity remain irreplaceable.
The discussion surfaced after Los Angeles strung together a six-game winning streak. The first three victories came while James was sidelined by injury, coinciding with guard Austin Reaves’ return to early-season form and sparking speculation that the club’s offense flowed more smoothly without the four-time MVP.
Paul attributed any uneven stretches to the time it takes players to adapt to new roles. “For a guy that’s been on the ball for so long, how do you play him off the ball?” he asked, adding that teammates often need additional games to settle in next to a superstar of James’ stature.
The agent also pointed to constant injuries and limited minutes shared by James, Reaves and Luka Doncic as factors that slowed the team’s chemistry early in the season. With Los Angeles now healthy, James has accepted more of a secondary role while Reaves carries greater offensive responsibility, a shift Paul believes has helped the roster “figure it out.”
Los Angeles’ most recent win, a defensive 109-103 battle against the Houston Rockets, prompted James to remark that the matchup “felt like playoff basketball.” The Lakers will try to extend their streak as they continue a homestand at Crypto.com Arena.
Source: Lakers Nation
