Sports agent Rich Paul defended Anthony Davis and his trade request from the New Orleans Pelicans last year. According to Paul, the Los Angeles Lakers star felt a change was needed.
In an interview of Clay Skipper of GQ, Paul explained what it's like to be an athlete in a billion-dollar business. From Paul's observation, perspective changes once basketball becomes a profession, and not just a recreational activity.
They didn’t understand the situation he was in. They didn’t play in the place for however many years and feel as if there was a change needed. A lot of times the people around sports discredit certain things because it is a sport. And growing up, sporting is recreational, all the way up until you get to this point, where it’s a billion-dollar (expletive) business.
Paul shared that Davis — who spent his first seven years in the league with the Pelicans — felt that a change of team and environment was the right way to go. He also noted how the power has always been in the hands of the team which placed Davis in a tough position. So when Davis requested the trade, it was as if the balance of power shifted from the team to the individual athlete.
From AD’s perspective, he just felt it was time for change. There’s nothing wrong with that. As a player, the side that people don’t see is like, okay, yeah, I can go out and score 40 every night, but I can’t make you put certain things around me because I don’t have that power. I have to bet on you to do so. And in the event that I’m good enough that, if I feel that’s not happening, and I can change something? Then I’ll change it. Or I’ll seek to change it.
Paul has indeed stripped off the label as the mere agent of LeBron James — one of the most powerful athletes in the last decade or so. Now, Paul is a sports figure of his own making.
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