Rich Paul says he never expected the pairing of Luka Doncic and LeBron James to guarantee a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking after the team’s early playoff exit, the Klutch Sports CEO made clear that expectations tied to star power don’t always align with results.
“Everyone was so gung-ho about Luka Dončić and LeBron James. I wasn’t,” Paul said on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I never thought that just having those two meant they were going to win the championship. Names don’t win championships. Rosters do.”
Paul, who represents James, pointed to the importance of depth and roster construction over hype and marquee value.
The Lakers acquired Doncic in a blockbuster February trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, marking the first time in league history two active All-NBA players were swapped midseason.
The deal also included Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris heading to Los Angeles, while Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks were sent to Utah.
The Lakers, who clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, were eliminated by the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
It was the franchise’s second straight first-round exit, despite securing their first Pacific Division title since 2020. However, their playoff run failed to meet expectations following the Doncic acquisition.
