Super agent Rich Paul believes media influencing players to ‘chase ghosts’ instead of embracing greatness

LeBron James has taken the fight to veteran media analysts claiming their constant criticisms is affecting the NBA.

Super agent Rich Paul believes media influencing players to ‘chase ghosts’ instead of embracing greatness

Rich Paul echoes LeBron James' point on excessive media criticisms

The narrative dominating conversations in the NBA are about the ‘face of the league’ and how the media is diminishing players. LeBron James accused the media for not celebrating current players and the league while clutching on to the past.

His comments were primarily targeted at the constant criticisms coming from the likes of Charles Barkley, Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and other veteran analysts. Hearing those claims, Smith responded by calling out the four-time champion.

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He believes LeBron James was being hypocritical as he has always run away from criticism. At the same time, Smith believes the 40-year-old is always at hand to accept praise. However, a former player, Gilbert Arenas suggested Smith was also hypocritical in saying that.

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While on First Take, Arenas mentioned that veteran media members have always changed the narrative as per their convenience. But they did not do the same to the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Now, James’ close friend and agent Rich Paul gets drawn to that conversation.

Everything is different, there’s an evolution. So, we have to allow that to be the same in our sport. To not just judge these guys and have them chase ghosts all the time. We have great players in the league.

Rich Paul said

He believes media veterans are constantly comparing current generation players to those from other eras. That is not a valid comparison as every era has different skills and playing styles. He believes media should celebrate what they are seeing now, instead of constantly pushing the goal posts.

90’s players could not handle LeBron James

The CEO of Klutch Sports went on tell Pat McAfee and his panel that if one did have to compare players, one can look at how they performed when the next generation came in. He cited the example of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James to say this.

It’s not all true that these guys couldn’t play in the 80s and 90s, that’s false. Just go back and watch, some of those guys who played in the 90s were still there when guys like LJ and others came in. They were stuck in the mud on defense, couldn’t defend him.

Rich Paul said

Therefore, he believes it is incorrect to suggest that someone like the four-time league MVP would not have thrived in the era when Michael Jordan was great. He has the skill, intelligence and athletic ability to thrive even if the game was much more physical.

At the same time, Rich Paul believes players of eras past could not handle the skill of current generation stars. To cite an example, he suggested that none of the former point guard greats could defend Kyrie Irving with his skill set. Therefore, the comparison of eras is not valid.

Rich Paul believes there will be no ‘face of the NBA’

With the constant comparisons, LeBron James believes no player wants to be the ‘face of the NBA’. The players do not want to face excessive scrutiny or be subject to constant comparisons and criticisms. To this Rich Paul said.

There’s a responsibility and accountability that come with being a professional athlete. There’s an even higher level that comes with being a star or a budding star or one of the legendary guys in the league. And I know we had that face of the league, and I don’t think there’s going to be a next face of the league.

Rich Paul said

The 44-year-old agent believes the NBA will forge ahead in the form of a community. It will be similar to how it was after Michael Jordan retired. Then when a player is ready to take on the ‘face of the NBA’ mantle, the basketball universe will anoint him as such.

That is how he believes James became the face of the league a few years after Jordan retired. The same could follow once the Lakers superstar along with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant leave the game. That is unless someone steps up to fill the void.