Rich Paul hits Los Angeles Lakers with harsh reality check as Max Kellerman questions LeBron James decision
The Los Angeles Lakers might have started the NBA season fast, but Rich Paul has questioned their status as contenders.
It’s fair to say, perhaps, that the Purple and Gold has exceeded expectations thus far.
Luka Doncic is performing at MVP level, and Austin Reaves sparkled in LeBron James‘ early-season absence.
The Lakers have also battled their way through to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, which features different courts, and face the San Antonio Spurs.
But despite a 17-6 start – and the fact that LeBron is his cornerstone client – Klutch Sports CEO Paul has cooled any talk of Los Angeles reaching the NBA Finals come June.
Rich Paul explains why Lakers are not real NBA contenders
Speaking on Game Over, his newly-launched podcast with Max Kellerman, the super agent predicted the Lakers will fall short of an 18th championship.
“I personally don’t think the Lakers are good enough to be contenders — not right now,” Paul said.
“I don’t think they have enough to get to the Western Conference Final. I don’t think they have enough to contend from that perspective.”
“When you go into the playoffs, we saw last year, they ran into athleticism and length. They struggled.
“When you look at it now, athleticism, length, shooting, speed. Can the Lakers play fast? I don’t think so.
“That style of play is going to be very easy to guard when you get to the playoffs.”
As well as hitting the Lakers with a reality check over this season’s title hopes, Paul went even further and suggested that the team still has plenty of work to do to be regarded as a true ‘championship organization’.
Rich Paul claims Lakers not operating as ‘championship organization’
“Just because you won a championship or several championships, that doesn’t necessarily make you a championship organization,” he said.
“Put it this way, the Oklahoma City Thunder, prior to winning a championship, if you had asked me, ‘Is this a championship organization?’ I would have said yes, they just haven’t won yet.
“The culture, depth in the front office… you’re looking at it from a place of, ‘How are we building a team?’
“Managing assets, stock piling draft capital, things of that nature. Then you look up and boom, all while doing that, you’re establishing a culture. It doesn’t matter what name comes in here.”
As Paul broke down how an NBA team can reach that ‘championship’ level, Kellerman turned attention back to the Lakers.
Max Kellerman questions Lakers over bowing to top talent
He questioned their overarching culture, and argued Los Angeles could be ‘catering too much’ to the biggest names in basketball, like LeBron and Luka.
The Game Over hosts then discussed the idea of the organization ‘kowtowing’ to their superstars.
“When you are a team like the Lakers, sometimes when you’re that attraction, in LA, history and legacy, there’s a couple of ways you can lean,” Paul explained.
“But the details within the organization is what needs to be invested in, to create foundational roots (to win championships).
“LeBron was always a pro… there was never a thing of body fat, getting out of shape. Being on time, nothing.”
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Paul then compared the current Lakers to the Miami Heat, the team a ring-less LeBron joined back in 2010.
That move, from the Cleveland Cavaliers, paid off as he went to the NBA Finals in four straight years from 2011 to 2014 and won two titles.
Paul continued: “Going back to mindset: (Heat president) Pat Riley had a championship mindset, so the foundation (was there for LeBron to win in Miami).
“I don’t think you have to kowtow to Luka, LeBron, or anybody. You’re the Lakers… there’s a world where stars are going to get preferential treatment, but that has nothing to do with the foundation of you as an organization.
“I would say, if there was room to grow for the Lakers, it would be in that department. ‘Yes, we’re the Lakers, we’ve got 17 championships. Let’s establish this culture of being a championship organization’.
“That doesn’t stop you from having great service and rolling out the red carpet here and there, everyone’s going to do that.”
Paul’s point might be tough for the Lakers organization to hear, but it’s one that rings true.
The Thunder, as he mentioned, are a perfect example. They spent years putting the foundations in place to get that long-awaited championship win.
This season, they look on course to repeat that success, and have won 15-straight games.
Los Angeles, perhaps, are in the process of building a similar championship culture. But with LeBron turning 41 later this month, the titles will likely come after he leaves.
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