Klutch Sports' Quiet Takeover: Rich Paul's New Influence on the San Antonio Spurs

Spurs culture will never be the same

It’s long been a story that, via LeBron James, Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group agency has exerted heavy influence on Laker basketball decisions. Klutch and the Lakers became synonymous in this era. But what if there’s a new franchise that Rich Paul has designs on? What if that franchise has, for decades, symbolized the antithesis of his agency?

Whereas Paul is all about player empowerment, leveraging the individual against the organization, the small town San Antonio Spurs have promoted a culture where players subordinate to the collective. In San Antonio, you’re supposed to get over yourself and accept being screamed at by Gregg Popovich. But Pop is old. Spurs culture hasn’t achieved a title in over a decade. And so a new influence has blown into Texas. Here’s what’s happening.