Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James, has offered two recent comments that shed light on the standing of the 40-year-old star — both in the endless debate over who is the greatest player in NBA history and around the personal cost of playing on Christmas Day, where James has long been a fixture.
Speaking on the Game Over podcast, Paul weighed comparisons between LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, arguing that expectations and context are central to judging greatness. He said players who did not enter the league under intense scrutiny start at a disadvantage, adding that LeBron would be his clear choice to build a team from scratch, while Jordan would be the unquestioned option to take a single, decisive final shot.
Paul’s remarks echoed a line that quickly drew attention: “If I want the single last shot, I’m taking Michael Jordan. No question about it.”
At the same time, Paul weighed in on the minor controversy sparked by James’ comments about Christmas Day games, made after the Lakers’ 103-88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. James said he would prefer to spend the holiday at home with his family, while stressing that playing on Christmas is a great honor — a comment that drew mixed reactions.
Paul also said most fans understood the intent behind James’ comments about Christmas Day games. He described the holiday schedule as part of the sacrifice elite players make, noting that this will be James’ 21st Christmas appearance. While James takes pride in playing on the holiday, Paul said it is natural that he would still prefer, on a personal level, to be home with his family, like anyone else.
The Lakers, who hold an 8-19 record, will host the Houston Rockets (9-17) on Christmas Day in a game set for U.S. prime time. For James, it will mark another milestone in a unique resume. He holds the NBA records for Christmas Day points (507), appearances (20) and wins (11), with this year marking his 21st game on the holiday.