Rich Paul Puts Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant on Michael Jordan-LeBron James’ Shelf

Rich Paul has been Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James' agent, close friend, and business associate for a long time.

Rich Paul Puts Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant on Michael Jordan-LeBron James’ Shelf

LeBron James, Rich Paul with the three greats (Image via FirstSportz)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

As the Michael Jordan – LeBron James GOAT debate rages on, many are continuously asking if the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has done enough to either climb up to the same level as “His Airness” or even surpass him.

His recent performances at age 40 have left even his harshest critics to wonder if the Akron native has proved over and over again that he could be the greatest of all time.

Even then, some do not consider him to be at the level of the Chicago Bulls’ great. When Max Kellerman ranked James behind Jordan, his Game Over Podcast co-host Rich Paul said this:

When you talk about replace, Michael Jordan is up there. If someone comes along and goes on the same shelf as Jordan, which is, i.e., LeBron. You put him up there. Kobe goes up there on the shelf. I now think Steph Curry goes up on the shelf with those guys.

Rich Paul said

Hearing this shocked Max Kellerman. He did not have a problem with Kobe Bryant‘s inclusion, but wondered if the Klutch Sports CEO truly believed Curry was in the same echelon as Michael Jordan and the Lakers superstar.

Then Paul clarified that the four superstars were on the same shelf, even though their trophy sizes would be different from one another. It seems the agent was taking into consideration the impact on the game of the basketball the Warriors star has had, as, because of him, even the regulars have started following the game.

Rich Paul reiterates LeBron James does not influence his opinions

After revealing what Rich Paul felt about the GOAT debate, Max Kellerman was inclined to ask his co-host if he was bothered about the allegations of continuously working for LeBron James‘ benefit.

It’s the weirdest thing. It goes to show how people think. Yes, LeBron gave me an opportunity, and I am overly appreciative of. But if you talk to the man himself, he’ll tell you, ‘That guy has his own mind!’

Rich Paul said

The 45-year-old made it clear that, contrary to what people may think about him controlling the media and saying things that benefit the Lakers superstar’s image, he works on his own.

He admitted that James gave him a platform, from which he has grown from a merchandise hustler to one of the biggest names in the sports agency business. But that does not mean he is obligated to only speak good things about the four-time champion. The only problem is that even the great Phil Jackson once labeled James’ business associates, of whom Paul is a part, as a ‘posse.’

That has given birth to claims that the Ohio natives, alongside Maverick Carter and a few others, intentionally manipulate media to ensure LeBron James’ image is taken care of.

Rich Paul loves LeBron James battling Dillon Brooks in season 23

While continuing to talk about LeBron James, Max Kellerman asked Rich Paul about the Lakers-Suns game, where the latter’s client ended up getting Dillon Brooks ejected.

LeBron James and Dillon Brooks have battled hard recently
LeBron James and Dillon Brooks have battled hard recently (Image via Legion Hoops/X)

At the end of the day, poke the bear. I want that… I enjoy the competition of it all… For LeBron, in his case, he is in year 23. There’s nothing he hasn’t seen.

Rich Paul replied

It seems the agent loves the competition, as somewhere it keeps the fire burning inside the oldest player in the league. Competition is what fans want to see, and in that battle, they enjoyed plenty of it.

He did agree to Kellerman’s suggestion that James was the one who instigated the entire sequence, and eventually managed to push Brooks far enough that he was asked to leave, which eventually cost the Suns the game.

Also Read: