The NBA ecosystem requires everyone to work hand in hand to make it a sustainable business venture. The sports agents are a key part of that as they get to witness the market up and close. Recently, the agent of LeBron James revealed a few aspects of the game that put the harsh reality in full display.
After brokering over $400 million deals, the NBA agent candidly shared the life struggles of the league’s stars. He even used Stephen Curry as a reference to better explain his version of the market.
What did the agent of LeBron James say?
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In a recent episode of Gil’s Arena,?James’ agent Rich Paul talked about how the NBA draft works and its potential impact on a player’s career. According to him, a top pick’s demand remained intact throughout the draft, but that’s not true for everyone. “If you slotted at 35, that team that’s picking 18 is not taking you,” Rich?stated to highlight that.
This all changed after the draft, if only, as he mentioned, the player “have superstar qualities”.?So, in the end, the attributes of a player took precedence as Paul stated, “We gotta look at market”.?He pointed out that the demand for an NBA star was correlated with his gameplay and ability to influence the game.
Thus, he believed, “Some people are market busters,” who caused disruptions in their era. The 41-year-old used the Golden State Warriors‘ Stephen as a reference to elaborate on that. The sports agent said that even if the Minnesota Timberwolves had picked him, the outcome would have been the same as today.
“You’re Steph Curry. We can not deny that,” he said, highlighting Curry’s impact on basketball. He mentioned LeBron caused the same during his first stint at the Cleveland Cavalries. This makes us question one thing.
What is the importance of an agent?
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The player representatives are often put under a bad limelight. Rich Paul was criticized for helping his players earn $400 million this off-season, but LeBron praised him for it.
They take the off-court pressure off of their stars as they go to the tables to handle the tough deals all by themselves. From managing superstars to keeping them in check, the agents are a vital factor in a player’s growth.
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With one aspect of the market reality full on display after Rich Paul’s words, it’s easier now to guess the level of competition. To some, it seems unfair, while others are at peace with how things are. That’s just how it goes in the NBA.