• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

adam81king

All-Star
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
5,807
Reaction score
9,352
Points
113
I've noticed a pattern of disdain for Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group on this board, which is an opinion many seem to share. My question, however, is why so many claim that he's a "bad agent" or a bad person. I've noticed any number of comments and posts going at Rich and I'm just curious about why. Feel free to share, in case I've missed something.
 
I've noticed a pattern of disdain for Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group on this board, which is an opinion many seem to share. My question, however, is why so many claim that he's a "bad agent" or a bad person. I've noticed any number of comments and posts going at Rich and I'm just curious about why. Feel free to share, in case I've missed something.

Becasue most dont understand that an agent works for the athlete, not the team or the fans
 
I've noticed a pattern of disdain for Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group on this board, which is an opinion many seem to share. My question, however, is why so many claim that he's a "bad agent" or a bad person. I've noticed any number of comments and posts going at Rich and I'm just curious about why. Feel free to share, in case I've missed something.

I don't think I've heard anyone criticize him as a "person". Most of the criticism I've heard is that his methods are not good for the long-term health of the sport, or that he occasionally screws up (Nerlens Noel).
 
I've noticed a pattern of disdain for Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group on this board, which is an opinion many seem to share. My question, however, is why so many claim that he's a "bad agent" or a bad person. I've noticed any number of comments and posts going at Rich and I'm just curious about why. Feel free to share, in case I've missed something.

I don't think I've heard anyone criticize him as a "person". Most of the criticism I've heard is that his methods are not good for the long-term health of the sport, or that he occasionally screws up (Nerlens Noel).

I'm kind of curious as to why some seem so sensitive to criticism of him. Fans generally don't like agents.
 
I've noticed a pattern of disdain for Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group on this board, which is an opinion many seem to share. My question, however, is why so many claim that he's a "bad agent" or a bad person. I've noticed any number of comments and posts going at Rich and I'm just curious about why. Feel free to share, in case I've missed something.
Selling knock off jerseys and being a LeBron sycophant doesn't make someone the best agent in the world.

I legitimately had no problem with Rich Paul until he started pulling the holdout card. Pretty sure he started doing it with Bledsoe, had TT hold out, JR. The Anthony Davis bullshit, and now the Ben Simmons bullshit. It's just gotten old.

I don't have a problem with player empowerment, I have an issue with forcing your way out 1 year into a max contract. And I attribute that nonsense directly to Rich Paul.
 
Ya, Drew Rosenhaus is/was a cancerous tumor to the NFL in much of the same way.
 
I think too much focus is put on the agent and not enough on the players. Agents vary because of tactics, media presence and the quality of advice given. Players are well aware of the first two for established agents and, if they ask around and look at how each agent has done for their clients, can make good decisions on the third point as well.

I don't think Rich Paul is the driving force behind Ben Simmons' actions. I think Ben has quit the Sixers and has no intention of honoring that contract. Ben has packed up his Philly residence and made it clear through his agent that he won't play for them despite having four years left on his contract. Rich Paul did not make those decisions.

As far as agents being good people or bad people - usually that's not a key factor. Anyone hiring an agent wants an effective agent, not a choirboy.
 
As far as agents being good people or bad people - usually that's not a key factor. Anyone hiring an agent wants an effective agent, not a choirboy.
It's not about being good, it's about being unethical. The holdouts, the media leaks, all the horse shit that goes on behind the scenes. There's no integrity w/ them and honestly, if I were a ball club; I simply wouldn't deal w/ their clients. It's not worth it.

As for Rich Paul. The best analogy I can think of for him and Lebron is from The Wire. I felt like Lebron was more Avon and Rich was Stringer. I feel like Rich is largely responsible for pulling Lebron from CLE and chase larger markets and Lebron was the talent who was more interested in home. I'm an Avon guy.

Maybe that's not how it works behind the scenes, it's just how it's always felt to me.
 
Last edited:
You haven't?
Exactly how is the guy who went from selling knock off jerseys out of the back of his car to becoming a sports agents solely because he became friends with LeBron not a sycophant? Is it a term that you're not familiar with the definition? I know arguing over vocabulary is the hot new craze on RCF, so let me help a little.

syc·o·phant
/ˈsikəˌfant,ˈsikəfənt/
Learn to pronounce

noun

  1. a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
ob·se·qui·ous
/əbˈsēkwēəs/
Learn to pronounce

adjective

  1. obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

Don't tell me for a second that he didn't suck his way up to becoming what he is.

It's not even a criticism, it's a fucking fact.
 
Selling knock off jerseys and being a LeBron sycophant doesn't make someone the best agent in the world.

I legitimately had no problem with Rich Paul until he started pulling the holdout card. Pretty sure he started doing it with Bledsoe, had TT hold out, JR. The Anthony Davis bullshit, and now the Ben Simmons bullshit. It's just gotten old.

I don't have a problem with player empowerment, I have an issue with forcing your way out 1 year into a max contract. And I attribute that nonsense directly to Rich Paul.
You can knock the beginnings and a few missteps but from an opportunity he has built the industries most successful agency and continues to add stars to their roster each year.
Plenty of superstars have friends and sycophants. None have done what Rich has done
 
You can knock the beginnings and a few missteps but from an opportunity he has built the industries most successful agency and continues to add stars to their roster each year.
Plenty of superstars have friends and sycophants. None have done what Rich has done

Impossible to argue with that last sentence. The absolute, very least that can be said about the guy is that he freaking hustles. Give 1000 other guys the same "break" he got, and they don't do a damn thing with it. He did.

That being said, I think his approach is going to cost players in general a lot of money down the road.
 
It's not about being good, it's about being unethical. The holdouts, the media leaks, all the horse shit that goes on behind the scenes. There's no integrity w/ them and honestly, if I were a ball club; I simply wouldn't deal w/ their clients. It's not worth it.

As for Rich Paul. The best analogy I can think of for him and Lebron is from The Wire. I felt like Lebron was more Avon and Rich was Stringer. I feel like Rich is largely responsible for pulling Lebron from CLE and chase larger markets and Lebron was the talent who was more interested in home. I'm an Avon guy.

Maybe that's not how it works behind the scenes, it's just how it's always felt to me.
If an agent is so unethical that teams are better off not drafting players represented by said agent then at that point he's clearly gone too far and hurt his clients. No evidence Rich Paul is at that point with owners.

I think Ben Simmons actions are inexcusable and if I was an owner I would forbid my team from acquiring him, but that's 100% because of Ben and 0% because of Rich Paul. The person acting u ethically (i.e. refusing to report for work) is Ben. It is Rich's job to catch as much shit for his client as possible.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top