Reading about the 1999 lockout and the prelude to it, it's clear to me this is not unprecedented. It would be great if you could contextualize this all with the history of David Falk (notably MJ and Ewing's agent). He too went to the one year deals with threat to taking MJ to Knicks in the second threepeat to maximize income and leverage against Krause and Reinsdorf. And he too was loathed for the power he exercised in the CBA negotiations.
I'm no fan of Klutch, but to me the special suspicion toward it, once again comes down to overabundance of information in this era. At the risk of sounding "woke" (and my comment history on this substack would certainly make me an eyebrow raising member of that tribe), a non-trivial component of Klutch distaste is at the brash "not-proper", unpolished, manner of their operation, along with the fact that neither Lebron nor Rich Paul try to act like squeaky clean suited paragons of bourgeois white values.
How the NBA doesn't see this as an illegal conflict of interest with Lebron is beyond me. Does he have an official stake in Klutch or is he just a client?
Think you need to dive deeper into the Nerlens Noel story. This will be looked back on as the beginning of the end for Klutch. Steering players away from competition to undermine Brons Chief competitors is huge and right up there with fixing and collusion. Im shocked no on has done an expose already. Or does Bron really run the entire league? Wait… maybe that is an even bigger story.
Matt you could be right but I'm too cynical to think it'll be the beginning of the end. But I wouldn't be shocked if what they can get away with now informs the doing of what will be the beginning of the end.
Im with Ethan here. Nerlens is probably not a big enough fish for this to be anything more than a moderate speed bump. In my view, it marks the next step in the story. Where Klutch continues to up the ante in the terms of the rules they’re willing to break. It’s definitely a pretty serious escalation though. I am curious about the impending CAA vs. Klutch mega battle. You’ve mentioned before that ESPN has a lot of CAA talent, but Kendrick Perkins seems to be shilling for Paul atm and Nerlens responded by calling him a puppet. Is Perk a double agent?!?!?
Perkin his a just chats BOLLOCKS m8, d guy his just saying a dumb things and is after just put carry on to d is tweets . I not sure why d guy his in all d telly show now maybe it’s good guy but his chats bollocks and his just protection for d guy Lebron and is mates. D guy Bosh Chris his a million time better than d Perkin of my opinions.
A lot of Klutch clients play for rivals. Draymond is a Klutch client. He beat Lebron for 3 rings and called him a b*tch. Much more likely those teams just didn't want Nerlens. He may have been getting bad advice but I don't think it was a vast conspiracy. Does anyone think Nerlens Noel would be the difference in a team beating Lebron?
Excellent writing. You touched on the canary in the coal mine of LeBron being the co-founder of Klutch. Ostensibly, Klutch is Paul’s agency — but in your piece, it’s inferred Paul’s power and influence comes via LeBron James. Since LeBron’s power, with its symbiosis partnership with Miller, has made Klutch a success, then why has NBA media pretend like he’s just a client? They seem to try very hard paint that Rich and LeBron are at arms length in this business.
And I am with you… I see it as dishonest to even frame this as a supposition. There is plenty of evidence of LeBron’s explicit involvement in recruiting and contract negotiations (the most egregious was his IG post congratulating himself and Rich for getting a 5-year $70M deal for Bledsoe with Phoenix — which wasn’t great given the then looming cap spike).
And when listening to Jalen Rose’s old podcast around that time, he started talking how it worked before having the self-awareness to stop himself.
I think opening with the Adidas/Nike link with Lavine was a curious choice. There's about 2.5 relevant clothing brands for NBA players and one is more popular + dominant to an entire generation. Seems like a sleight of hand, so you can claim it to be insidious down the line if it happens when it's a fairly innocuous part of the game at this point.
If it is such a big part of Klutch's 'influencer juggernaut' then maybe tell that to Rich Paul, pictured out and about with one of the biggest musical artists on the planet in the most viral paparazzi shots he'll ever have, wearing his fairly customary Adidas Gazelles.
I don't usually like responding to critical comments (they can be like quicksand), but I think this is a fair knock. After some consideration, I think that's the wrong intro to an otherwise focused article.
I think Ethan was right to mention it. One of the most surprising insights from the Ben Simmons’ Showtime documentary, “One and Done”, came when Adidas offered Ben more money and put more effort into recruiting him than Nike. His family was impressed and suggested he take the Adidas deal. However, Rich told to take the Nike deal (which he did). It showed the strength of relationship between Nike and Klutch and maybe they are not making every decision solely on the best interest of their clients.
Ya, that sort of influence is a real thing, but I think the intro is too speculative for my liking, looking back on it. Dude could sign with whomever tomorrow and then I look dumb(er than usual). Looking back, I want to keep it more purely Andy + Rich.
I think the Klutch dynamic deserves an "OJ: Made in America 30 for 30" level of deep dive. While Ethan's initial foray is thorough, I feel like there's more there to explore. Admittedly I've had my Conspiracy Theory hat on for awhile with this group and how they apply their power within the NBA world. I'm fascinated to explore their relationship with the NBA's resident Step-dad Adam Silver and how they wield their power with the Klutch Media Channel --oops I mean ESPN-- because its the Elephant in the Room.
The guy David Stern his was a COURAGE a DETERMINATION a DEDICATIENCE, his not care of d super stars because his was running a sport league innit , his was not try to outchea be coming a best mates with a d supers stars in d basket like James Lebron and d another stars. I tinkin em his a shite commission, I tinkin em d league his going down under d guy silver. Is just a want to being a top M8s with a d blokes but can NOT to run a leagues this way!
Reading about the 1999 lockout and the prelude to it, it's clear to me this is not unprecedented. It would be great if you could contextualize this all with the history of David Falk (notably MJ and Ewing's agent). He too went to the one year deals with threat to taking MJ to Knicks in the second threepeat to maximize income and leverage against Krause and Reinsdorf. And he too was loathed for the power he exercised in the CBA negotiations.
I'm no fan of Klutch, but to me the special suspicion toward it, once again comes down to overabundance of information in this era. At the risk of sounding "woke" (and my comment history on this substack would certainly make me an eyebrow raising member of that tribe), a non-trivial component of Klutch distaste is at the brash "not-proper", unpolished, manner of their operation, along with the fact that neither Lebron nor Rich Paul try to act like squeaky clean suited paragons of bourgeois white values.
Hey Ethan, great article and I love the insight into what is growing into a seemingly point of contention for FOs and the NBA with Klutch’s influence.
Also, more reason for me to never go swimming in the ocean again.
How the NBA doesn't see this as an illegal conflict of interest with Lebron is beyond me. Does he have an official stake in Klutch or is he just a client?
Suggestion for a future article - why are people obsessed with Klutch as compared to every other agency that has extremely shady practices?
It’s a black guy with power instead of the usual white ones. Some don’t like that.
Think you need to dive deeper into the Nerlens Noel story. This will be looked back on as the beginning of the end for Klutch. Steering players away from competition to undermine Brons Chief competitors is huge and right up there with fixing and collusion. Im shocked no on has done an expose already. Or does Bron really run the entire league? Wait… maybe that is an even bigger story.
Matt you could be right but I'm too cynical to think it'll be the beginning of the end. But I wouldn't be shocked if what they can get away with now informs the doing of what will be the beginning of the end.
Im with Ethan here. Nerlens is probably not a big enough fish for this to be anything more than a moderate speed bump. In my view, it marks the next step in the story. Where Klutch continues to up the ante in the terms of the rules they’re willing to break. It’s definitely a pretty serious escalation though. I am curious about the impending CAA vs. Klutch mega battle. You’ve mentioned before that ESPN has a lot of CAA talent, but Kendrick Perkins seems to be shilling for Paul atm and Nerlens responded by calling him a puppet. Is Perk a double agent?!?!?
Perkin his a just chats BOLLOCKS m8, d guy his just saying a dumb things and is after just put carry on to d is tweets . I not sure why d guy his in all d telly show now maybe it’s good guy but his chats bollocks and his just protection for d guy Lebron and is mates. D guy Bosh Chris his a million time better than d Perkin of my opinions.
A lot of Klutch clients play for rivals. Draymond is a Klutch client. He beat Lebron for 3 rings and called him a b*tch. Much more likely those teams just didn't want Nerlens. He may have been getting bad advice but I don't think it was a vast conspiracy. Does anyone think Nerlens Noel would be the difference in a team beating Lebron?
Excellent writing. You touched on the canary in the coal mine of LeBron being the co-founder of Klutch. Ostensibly, Klutch is Paul’s agency — but in your piece, it’s inferred Paul’s power and influence comes via LeBron James. Since LeBron’s power, with its symbiosis partnership with Miller, has made Klutch a success, then why has NBA media pretend like he’s just a client? They seem to try very hard paint that Rich and LeBron are at arms length in this business.
And I am with you… I see it as dishonest to even frame this as a supposition. There is plenty of evidence of LeBron’s explicit involvement in recruiting and contract negotiations (the most egregious was his IG post congratulating himself and Rich for getting a 5-year $70M deal for Bledsoe with Phoenix — which wasn’t great given the then looming cap spike).
And when listening to Jalen Rose’s old podcast around that time, he started talking how it worked before having the self-awareness to stop himself.
I think opening with the Adidas/Nike link with Lavine was a curious choice. There's about 2.5 relevant clothing brands for NBA players and one is more popular + dominant to an entire generation. Seems like a sleight of hand, so you can claim it to be insidious down the line if it happens when it's a fairly innocuous part of the game at this point.
If it is such a big part of Klutch's 'influencer juggernaut' then maybe tell that to Rich Paul, pictured out and about with one of the biggest musical artists on the planet in the most viral paparazzi shots he'll ever have, wearing his fairly customary Adidas Gazelles.
I don't usually like responding to critical comments (they can be like quicksand), but I think this is a fair knock. After some consideration, I think that's the wrong intro to an otherwise focused article.
Glad to be of help. Editors are vital to good writing.
I think Ethan was right to mention it. One of the most surprising insights from the Ben Simmons’ Showtime documentary, “One and Done”, came when Adidas offered Ben more money and put more effort into recruiting him than Nike. His family was impressed and suggested he take the Adidas deal. However, Rich told to take the Nike deal (which he did). It showed the strength of relationship between Nike and Klutch and maybe they are not making every decision solely on the best interest of their clients.
Ya, that sort of influence is a real thing, but I think the intro is too speculative for my liking, looking back on it. Dude could sign with whomever tomorrow and then I look dumb(er than usual). Looking back, I want to keep it more purely Andy + Rich.
George Soros and the DEEP STATE should take the blame for the formation of Klutch Sports
Just wait till we get into CAAnon
Nice....lol
I think the Klutch dynamic deserves an "OJ: Made in America 30 for 30" level of deep dive. While Ethan's initial foray is thorough, I feel like there's more there to explore. Admittedly I've had my Conspiracy Theory hat on for awhile with this group and how they apply their power within the NBA world. I'm fascinated to explore their relationship with the NBA's resident Step-dad Adam Silver and how they wield their power with the Klutch Media Channel --oops I mean ESPN-- because its the Elephant in the Room.
Ethan,
Do you feel they'd be as powerful as they are today if David Stern (RIP) was still Commissioner?
No chance
The guy David Stern his was a COURAGE a DETERMINATION a DEDICATIENCE, his not care of d super stars because his was running a sport league innit , his was not try to outchea be coming a best mates with a d supers stars in d basket like James Lebron and d another stars. I tinkin em his a shite commission, I tinkin em d league his going down under d guy silver. Is just a want to being a top M8s with a d blokes but can NOT to run a leagues this way!