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At the 2024 Paris Olympics, fans will see LeBron James and Stephen Curry play together for the first time in a real tournament. After the tournament, the dream of seeing the two compete together is even bigger.
In February, American media reported that the Golden State Warriors had offered to bring LeBron James to the Chase Center. However, both the Lakers and James’s representative, Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports, refused.
Why did Rich Paul turn down the Warriors’ offer?
Why did the agent prevent LeBron James from going to Golden State Warriors?
Potential negotiations between the Warriors and Lakers stalled because of Paul’s objections, according to NBA Insider’s Marc Stein. Stein recently revealed more details about the deal that took place this past February.
According to Stein, the Lakers were willing to negotiate if James wanted to leave, but Paul intervened and eliminated the idea. The main reason he did so was to avoid unnecessary noise for James.
Before the Trade Deadline, rumors of a trade between the Lakers and Warriors had been swirling, as the two are rivals for a Play-in spot in the West. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported that the Lakers and Warriors had had initial talks, starting with conversations between the two team owners. However, all that fell apart when James expressed his desire to continue playing for the Lakers.
“He’s committed to the Lakers,” Paul said. “Jeanie [Buss] has been a great partner for LeBron and for us. I think it’s important to understand and respect that. There were ups and downs throughout the season, but at the end of the day, LeBron is committed to the Lakers.”
While James could move to the Warriors in pursuit of another NBA title, Paul insists James’ legacy is secure. “I don’t think he can achieve anything else and I don’t think he’s in a position where he has to try to win every year.”
During All-Star weekend, James also confirmed that a trade was unlikely.
“[The potential deal] hasn’t progressed at all,” James told TNT. “I’ve heard about it… Sometimes there are conversations that happen behind closed doors and you don’t know. When that happens, I guess they’ll let everyone know. But not me, I only know when reporters report it.”
Whether James knows it or not, his future is firmly tied to the Lakers. The 39-year-old star signed a new deal ahead of the 2024/25 season that will double his salary. With the Lakers selecting Bronny with the 55th pick, James will continue to play in the purple and gold of the Lakers.
