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Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport
Accused of having too much influence behind the scenes, LeBron James is often criticized for this, including in the Russell Westbrook trade. But his agent was keen to set the record straight on these rumors.
While the Lakers will have some changes to make this summer, this may be the first time LeBron James’ opinion won’t be sought. The priority is clearly Luka Doncic in the City of Angels, who should be the star for the next 10 years if all goes well. The King, meanwhile, is slowly approaching retirement.
And yet, for years, James has been accused of having a strong influence on his organization’s choices. Whether we’re talking about the Heat, Cavaliers or Lakers, he’s often blamed for certain trades. In fact, he’s inherited a rather telling nickname from fans over the years: LeGM, and there’s no need to explain its meaning.
LeBron James falsely accused of certain trades?
But is it a reality or just a fan invention? While some franchises are bound to consult the King on moves, that doesn’t mean he has the final say. Rich Paul, his agent, was keen to set the record straight in a recent broadcast. No, his client is not responsible for what happens.
Rich Paul on the influence of LeBron James: “And that’s false. I think that — and I can say that because I’m there. And when you think about that and that narrative, people don’t think about the impact that that has off the court, right? It hurts friendships, guys that play on teams, because they feel like, ‘Hey, I may have been traded, and it’s because you wanted me out of here,’ right”
“Clearly, he don’t run the team because there’s things that transpired that he didn’t even know about. So how is he running the team? The Westbrook trade, he didn’t make that trade, contrary to what people try to put out there. He did not make that trade, and I know that for a fact.”
An important clarification, although it may not be enough to convince everyone on the subject. James said recently that he didn’t know about the Anthony Davis trade, and it’s hard not to believe him when you know his friendship with the interior. LeBron doesn’t make decisions, and the summer of 2025 should confirm it.
