With postseason in full swing this year, one thing is abundantly clear, it’s a new dawn in the NBA. This is because the three names, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James who dominated the post-season just a few years ago, are all eliminated. Younger players made sure to send all of them home, for KD it was Anthony Edwards who led the charge for the Minnesota Timberwolves, for Bron it was Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, and for Steph who didn’t even make the playoffs, it was the young Sacramento Kings team.

However, Rich Paul in his recent appearance on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast gave Durant and Curry their flowers. “I think that just appreciating the guys, appreciating LeBron, appreciating Kevin Durant, appreciating Steph Curry, like appreciating these guys,” said Paul.

The Klutch Sports CEO further added, “Seeing a guy like Steph at forward field in the NCAA tournament to being there, you know, I had Johnny Flynn in that draft. When they came out, he went before, yeah, and seeing everything that he’s been able to do, just understanding how Kevin(Durant) just, he just loves the game, he is just a pure basketball player, right? And we see what that gets you. He, you know, I don’t even know when he’s going to stop playing, he may be 55 years, he just, he just loved to hoop.”

In the end, Paul said that we as fans should appreciate the greatness of these players while they are still active. Paul himself has observed greatness very closely for decades and he’s also making plans to guide the potential future great players in this league.

Rich Paul has a pulse on the nerve of greatness

Paul has a sense of understanding the business of being great. One has to look no further than Tyrese Maxey to understand his hold on the NBA. A few seasons ago, the 23-year-old was in line to be thrown out to the G-League. However, upon Paul’s suggestion, the Philadelphia 76ers kept him near the team and Joel Embiid. That was the best thing that could happen for Maxey as what followed a 360 turnaround.

Not only did Maxey’s numbers shoot up significantly, filling the void left by James Harden, but he also became an All-Star this season. On top of that, he is currently carrying the Sixers to the first round of the playoffs due to Embiid’s injury and is a shoo-in for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. Paul turned Maxey’s career from G-league to a Max contract and that’s the best any player can hope for.