Rich Paul, the influential agent of NBA superstar LeBron James, has finally addressed the swirling rumors about a potential trade that could have sent James from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Golden State Warriors. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Paul was “adamantly opposed” to the idea of his client switching teams for a fourth time.

The trade rumors gained traction during last season’s trade deadline, with reports suggesting that the Warriors had expressed interest in pairing James with their core players, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Despite the discussions between Warriors owner Joe Lacob and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, Paul played a pivotal role in ensuring that the trade did not materialize.

Paul’s reasoning was clear: he wanted to protect James from potential backlash over another team change. “I didn’t want to see LeBron face the scrutiny that would come with moving to yet another team, especially at this stage in his career,” Paul stated.

LeBron’s commitment to the Lakers remains strong, as evidenced by his decision to re-sign with the team for his 22nd NBA season. However, as the Lakers face challenges in building a championship-contending roster, trade rumors could resurface if the team fails to improve.

For now, though, it appears that LeBron James will remain a Laker, with Rich Paul continuing to guide his career decisions.