It appears that Rich Paul is not very liked in the agent circle of the National Basketball Association.
Noel, who says Paul cost him $58 million in forfeited salary after Noel declined a four-year, $70 million offer from the Mavericks in 2017. Noel fired his previous agent Happy Walters, who had negotiated the $70 million deal, under Paul’s direction. Instead, he took his advice and accepted the one-year qualifying offer of $4.1 million. That following season, he tore a ligament in his left thumb, played only 30 games and was suddenly rendered a minimum-salary player.
According to a report, agents around the NBA cheered on Nerlens Noel’s lawsuit against Rich Paul this week.
“NBA agents across the league cheered Nerlens Noel’s lawsuit this week against powerbroker Rich Paul of Klutch Sports,” wrote Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
“Paul, a noted player representative and close friend of LeBron James, has reached the upper echelon of the NBA’s player representation economy, wielding an unpopular influence that many figures around the league believe comes from working alongside the greatest player of his generation. That naturally creates a few adversaries in the process.”
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The 27-year-old center alleges Paul then proceeded to provide little assistance in securing contracts and roster spots the following three seasons.
“The minute you hit a minimum, it’s very hard to go back,” one veteran player representative said.
Noel fired Paul as his agent in December of 2020.
Noel is currently a member of the New York Knicks where he posted averages of 5.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season.
