LeBron James’ Agent Rich Paul Claims Voter Resentment Blocked 7 MVPs and DPOY
LeBron James has openly talked about losing the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year award amongst other snubs.
4-time NBA champion LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)
Rich Paul drew up some controversy among LeBron James‘ fans when he claimed that he would want Michael Jordan to take the lost shot over his most important client.
The Klutch Sports CEO had to clarify later that he would still be taking the Los Angeles Lakers superstar over the Bulls great in a draft, preferring to build a team around him.
However, when it came to the last shot, Paul stood by his decision to hand it to the 6-time champion, who has a penchant for having the ability to finish the job.
When the agent and his podcast partner, Max Kellerman, were speaking about this on the Game Over Podcast, the latter mentioned that James should have won 7 regular-season MVP awards.
He should’ve got 7, and one Defensive Player of the Year. He never would’ve gotten unanimous because he did things his way, and people don’t like it when you do things your way. Especially in sports
Rich Paul added
Rich Paul believes voters weren’t happy with his biggest client and close friend, who went about doing things his way, instead of following the usual pattern defined in the NBA.
Rich Paul says LeBron should’ve won 7 MVPs and also a DPOY in 2013 but didn’t because people didn’t like how he did things his way and went to Miami 😬
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 31, 2025
“He should’ve won 7 (MVPs). Also a DPOY. He never would’ve gotten unanimous because he did things his ways and people don’t… https://t.co/Ewc5oiGwUF pic.twitter.com/kJvPZio1qF
Paul and Kellerman both believe LeBron James should have won the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and some more MVP awards, which should have added to the superstar’s legacy as one of the two greatest players in league history.
Rich Paul adds further context to his LeBron James-Michael Jordan last shot opinion
When Rich Paul said that he would prefer it if Michael Jordan took the last shot over LeBron James, the latter’s critics took the opportunity to claim that the GOAT debate was over. This forced the 45-year-old to add context.

You asked me who I want taking the last shot. Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Who do I want to make the play? It’s LeBron James.
Rich Paul said
To this, Max Kellerman refuted that he would prefer Jordan to handle the ball and take the last shot. Hearing this, the super agent butted in:
Not true. LeBron is the best decision-maker to ever play the game. No ifs, ands, or buts. I think Michael Jordan would say, ‘I want LeBron initiating and making the right play.’
Rich Paul said
Rich Paul believes His Airness would himself prefer that LeBron James should come up with the ball and set the stage for him to get in position to finish the game.
Eventually, Kellerman agreed, as he too thinks that the all-time leading scorer also happens to be one of the best at managing a game, and finding out the opponents’ weakness.
LeBron James might have to find out the weaknesses of Lakers’ next opponents
LeBron James, at age 41, is playing as the third-best option on the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been promoted to be the second-best option after Austin Reaves was ruled out for a month.
That means he will need to shoulder a larger burden of the team’s scoring and playmaking burden, along with the usual need to rebound. If the game on his birthday against the East-leading Detroit Pistons was any indication, the Lakers need their oldest player to come up with a lot more.
That blowout loss saw them end December with a poor 5-7 record, which has seen them drop down from 2nd in the West to 5th. If this form continues, the franchise could slide out of the playoff spots.
Considering how tightly contested the Western Conference is, the Lakers will need LeBron James to use his decades of experience to figure out their opponents’ weaknesses.
They have a mix of games against both weak as well as strong opponents. If they are to move back up the leaderboard, they have to start winning games consistently.
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