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Refusing to Depend on LeBron James, Best Friend Rich Paul Unravels Bond with Lakers Billionaire: “Already a Homeowner”

Published 10/10/2023, 4:51 PM EDT

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In the realm of athletics, fate frequently takes an unexpected turn. This is the situation with Rich Paul, the renowned super-agent, and LeBron James, one of basketball’s most illustrious figures. Their incredible adventure began with a fortuitous meeting at an airport in Akron, Ohio. It further grew into a lifetime relationship that changed the trajectory of their professions and lives.

However, with Paul’s autobiography being released, he spoke about his bond with James and what they bonded over. And during the interview with Stephen A Smith on First Take, he did not spare any details.

Rich Paul talks about his bond with King James

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Rich Paul, a young entrepreneur, wore a Warren Moon vintage jersey at Akron-Canton Airport in 2001. He did not know that this shirt would serve as a catalyst for a tragic encounter that would impact his future. LeBron James, who was a high school basketball prodigy at the time, couldn’t help but notice Paul’s unusual jersey. What began as a sports discussion rapidly turned into something more profound. James and Rich began talking about their upbringings, moms, towns, and the difficulties they had endured. A strong bond formed between them as they conversed. Later, LeBron said, “It just struck a chord.

During the First take interview with Stephen A Smith, Paul was asked about what he did that made James believe in him. He said, “When LeBron and I first met, he wasn’t the LeBron James we know today. But what I did was understood my position at each moment. I didn’t come with any entitlement, as there was nothing for me to be entitled about. Also, there was no role for me, I created one. When he told me he didn’t have a job, I was a stylist and then things just evolved”.

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He further adds, “I think people next to athletes need to understand when they make it to a place that don’t mean you stop doing what you need to do for yourself to lean on them”.

As per Paul, he never wanted to be depending on him, it was beyond his principles. He says, “And also it’s not helpful to the big picture of things. I never wanted to be dependent of him because I didn’t come from that. When Lebron met me, I was a homeowner already.” He further added by saying, “We bonded over our moms, really. Because I can see in somebody what they’ve gone through because if you’ve seen it, you know it”. And in his upcoming book, Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds, he spoke in depth about his relationship with his mother.

Rich Paul talks about his relationship with his mother in his book

Rich Paul’s existence as a wealthy sports agent and boyfriend to singer Adele conceals a path plagued with struggle and courage. Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds, Paul’s book, dives into his difficult upbringing in a crime-ridden area of Cleveland, Ohio. It covers the tremendous influence of his mother’s problems with addiction. Growing up in a crime-ridden and violent area in the 1980s and 1990s, Paul’s early years were difficult. His narrative clearly depicts the anguish of growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction, sometimes vanishing for days at a time. He remembers the awful reality of waiting for a mother who may never return.

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Paul developed a survival mechanism to deal with the emotional turbulence of his upbringing. He built barriers around his heart and emotions. He came to terms with the fact that his mother’s absence was a difficult aspect of his existence. It further built an understanding that allowed him to go ahead despite the sadness.

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Rich Paul’s book sheds light on the intense and difficult relationship he experienced with his mother. It emphasizes the long-lasting influence of her drug issues on his life. Paul changed his difficult background into a route that led him to become one of the most important personalities in the sports world today. All this is thanks to his tenacity and dedication. His narrative exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable tie between a boy and his mother in the face of hardship.

Watch this Story: Disappointed LeBron James Blisters Critics for Harsh Rich Paul Narrative: “I Don’t Give People Opportunities Much”

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Written by:

Dhruv Shastry

720Articles

One take at a time

Dhruv is an NBA writer at ES with years of playing experience to name. Despite the ankle injury barring him from playing further, he never lost touch with the sport. He loves the swag and the attitude basketball players possess.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja