While there doesn’t appear to be any beef between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, there apparently is some brewing between James’ longtime representative and Jordan’s longtime former agent.
Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports and James’ longtime business partner, recently called out comments made by David Falk, who served as Jordan’s agent for the entirety of his NBA career. Paul specifically addressed Falk’s recent comments suggesting his former client “would’ve won 15 championships” had he “cherry-picked” teams during his career. It’s clear, based on Paul’s response, that Falk’s cherry-picking comment touched a nerve, as that has been consistent criticism of James when it comes to Jordan-backers.
Here’s the entirely of Paul’s comments on the matter during a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” via YahooSports.
“The cherry picking terminology of it all, coming from someone who literally had John Thompson, Dean Smith, and Mike Krzyzewski supporting his business, putting superstar athletes in his lap. I think he was part of the cherry clan. I just thought it was very unfair and a little beneath David Falk for a number of reasons.”
“We can’t have revisionist history, and we all want to determine who’s the G.O.A.T and who’s the best and so on and so forth. But I just thought that was a little beneath David to say that.”
“When you look at that, right, again the cherry-pick, I’ve discussed that. The two other superstars – Michael never had to leave Michael’s never been the underdog in any Finals. Not one time.”
“Michael never had a 24-hour, 365 news cycle. He never had shows built strictly to criticize him. People made millions of dollars criticizing LeBron James. That was their entire job. And when you talk about the difficulty of it all, Michael played for Dean Smith, Michael played for Phil Jackson, and Michael had Jerry Krause.”
“I’m the biggest Michael Jordan fan ever, love Michael Jordan, and I don’t think Michael Jordan would’ve used the term ‘cherry-pick,’ so I’m not up here to discredit Michael Jordan. I think Michael Jordan transcended our game to a level that we all benefitted from.”
Paul makes a lot of good points, especially when it comes to the situations both Jordan and James dealt with during their careers. Jordan, as Paul noted, was virtually never considered an underdog heading into an NBA Finals, although the Bulls‘ Finals matchups with the Lakers (1991), Suns (1993) and Jazz (1998) were generally seen as coin-flips.
Yes, Jordan was the indisputable engine that drove those Bulls teams, but it wasn’t like Chicago’s roster wasn’t littered with talent. Those teams featured three other future Hall of Famers and two other top-75 all-time players in Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, who signed with Chicago as free agents prior to the Bulls’ second three-peat of the decade. Jordan, as Paul alluded to, also played under one of the greatest coaches of all-time in Jackson, whose record of 11 NBA titles won may never be touched.
The Bulls were not ready to compete with the NBA’s elite when Jordan first got to Chicago, but that didn’t last long, not after then-Bulls GM Jerry Krause built not one but two rosters around Jordan that were able to win at historic levels. The same, however, couldn’t be said of the Cavaliers during James’ first run with the franchise in the 2000s.
Despite a glaring lack of a supporting cast, James carried the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007, the second round of the playoffs in 2008 (where they lost to a much more talented Celtics team that would ultimately win the title that season), the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009 (losing to the Magic in six games) and the NBA’s best record in 2010 (the Cavs lost against to Boston in the second round that postseason).
At that point, James decided that a change was necessary. He joined forces with fellow future Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, and what followed were two titles and four NBA Finals appearances in four seasons. James then went back to Cleveland, where he won his third title while playing alongside fellow standouts Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Together, the trio pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history when the Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 series deficit to shock the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
James won his fourth and most recent NBA title in 2020 as a member of the Lakers. Like his three previous championships, James won this title with the help of another star in center Anthony Davis, who was traded during the 2024-25 season to Dallas in exchange for Luka Doncic, one of the NBA’s best players. Despite the acquisition, the Lakers lost in the first round of this year’s playoffs.
As noted above, while Paul and Falk are clearly not on the same page, there doesn’t appear to be any animosity between Jordan and James. While they admittedly aren’t close, James hasn’t been shy about his admiration for Jordan, who served as an inspiration for James when he was growing up. In turn, Jordan been respectful and complimentary when it comes to James. In 2022, the two had a memorable embrace during the NBA’s celebration of its 75th anniversary all-time team.
When it comes to the constant comparisons, both men have often said it’s simply not fair to compare players from different eras. Jordan had his challenges during his career, and LeBron has had his. Really, the debate between the two comes down to personal preference. Jordan backers will also look to him as the GOAT, and the same can be said of James and his fan base.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Vampeta cobra Ancelotti ao eleger melhor lateral-esquerdo do Brasileirão Série A
Vampeta, comentarista da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Vampeta considera que, entre todos os nomes à disposição, Alex Sandro é o melhor lateral-esquerdo brasileiro em atividade. Após o camisa 26 do Flamengo mostrar um nível impressionante contra o Palmeiras, o ex-jogador “cobrou” Ancelotti. Isso porque nenhum outro atleta da posição, dentro e fora do país, é visto com o mesmo nível, motivo pelo qual o retorno à seleção foi exigido. “Para mim, dos laterais-esquerdos que tem no futebol brasileiro, tanto quem joga em casa e joga fora, o melhor é o Alex Sandro. O Arana, quando é convocado, não joga bem. Ninguém joga bem nas duas laterais.”, disse o Velho Vamp, no Canelada, da Jovem Pan. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Se pegar o Alex Sandro, com 34 anos, é o melhor lateral-esquerdo. Tem que estar na relação desses dois jogos das Eliminatórias.”, acrescentou. Filipe […]
Vampeta cobra Ancelotti ao eleger melhor lateral-esquerdo do Brasileirão Série A
Vampeta, comentarista da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Vampeta considera que, entre todos os nomes à disposição, Alex Sandro é o melhor lateral-esquerdo brasileiro em atividade. Após o camisa 26 do Flamengo mostrar um nível impressionante contra o Palmeiras, o ex-jogador “cobrou” Ancelotti. Isso porque nenhum outro atleta da posição, dentro e fora do país, é visto com o mesmo nível, motivo pelo qual o retorno à seleção foi exigido. “Para mim, dos laterais-esquerdos que tem no futebol brasileiro, tanto quem joga em casa e joga fora, o melhor é o Alex Sandro. O Arana, quando é convocado, não joga bem. Ninguém joga bem nas duas laterais.”, disse o Velho Vamp, no Canelada, da Jovem Pan. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Se pegar o Alex Sandro, com 34 anos, é o melhor lateral-esquerdo. Tem que estar na relação desses dois jogos das Eliminatórias.”, acrescentou. Filipe […]
Shohei Ohtani touches 97 mph throwing batting practice, homers in first at-bat
NEW YORK — The 641 days that passed since Shohei Ohtani last threw against hitters on a big-league mound came amid some of the biggest changes of the 30-year-old’s life. He’s a World Series champion now who set more baseball history en route to a third Most Valuable Player trophy, has become a father, a husband, and, as notable as anything, changed his employer.AdvertisementOhtani took the mound to pitch batting practice at Citi Field on Sunday wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. He faced hitters for the first time since August 2023 and made his biggest progression yet toward actualizing his return to two-way play after undergoing a second major elbow operation.“I’ve gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter, and so to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different and certainly exciting,” […]
Knicks make starting lineup change as Tom Thibodeau goes with Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart in Game 3
Getty Images The predominant story of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals has been how badly the New York Knicks have performed with their starting lineup in the game. The five-man group of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns led the regular season with 940 total minutes played and leads the playoffs as well at 308, but its effectiveness waned as the months progressed, and in the playoffs, it's been downright bad.In those 308 postseason minutes, New York's starters have been outscored by 50 points. The group has been outscored by double digits in six of the 14 Knicks playoff games, and in the Eastern Conference finals, it has been outscored by 29 points in 43 minutes. With the Knicks trailing the Pacers 0-2 with an NBA Finals trip on the line, this group just isn't cutting […]
Sloppy start at 109th Indy 500 had ‘shades of 1992’
<!--> Bruce MartinSpecial to FOXSports.comINDIANAPOLIS — The cold winds of 1992 returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 33 years later for the start of Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500. It was back in 1992 on a bitterly cold day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, when pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero crashed on the Parade Lap.As the field entered the backstretch on the second parade lap, he gunned his machine to warm up the tires. The back end whipped around, and the car spun into the inside wall. The suspension was damaged enough that he could not continue, and he was out of the race before the green flag. Moments later, Philippe Gache lost control on cold tires and spun lazily into the apron of Turn 4. A couple extra pace laps were run, and the incidents delayed the start by about five minutes.By the […]
Gary Lineker emotionally signs off final Match of the Day ahead of BBC exit
An emotional Gary Lineker signed off his final appearance fronting Match of the Day, the BBC’s flagship weekly Premier League highlights show, after more than 25 years in the job.Lineker, 64, has presented Match of the Day since 1999, but is leaving the corporation altogether after he “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post that included a rat emoji.AdvertisementAfter a montage of his goals, Lineker opened the show with a quip, saying “it wasn’t meant to end this way”, before — after a brief pause — adding, “but with the title race over and the relegation places confirmed, the Champions League was all we had left to talk about”.During an interview with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot at the end of his side’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, Lineker was thanked by the Dutchman for being “such a great […]
Related
Vampeta cobra Ancelotti ao eleger melhor lateral-esquerdo do Brasileirão Série A
Vampeta, comentarista da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Vampeta considera que, entre todos os nomes à disposição, Alex Sandro é o melhor lateral-esquerdo brasileiro em atividade. Após o camisa 26 do Flamengo mostrar um nível impressionante contra o Palmeiras, o ex-jogador “cobrou” Ancelotti. Isso porque nenhum outro atleta da posição, dentro e fora do país, é visto com o mesmo nível, motivo pelo qual o retorno à seleção foi exigido. “Para mim, dos laterais-esquerdos que tem no futebol brasileiro, tanto quem joga em casa e joga fora, o melhor é o Alex Sandro. O Arana, quando é convocado, não joga bem. Ninguém joga bem nas duas laterais.”, disse o Velho Vamp, no Canelada, da Jovem Pan. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Se pegar o Alex Sandro, com 34 anos, é o melhor lateral-esquerdo. Tem que estar na relação desses dois jogos das Eliminatórias.”, acrescentou. Filipe […]
Vampeta cobra Ancelotti ao eleger melhor lateral-esquerdo do Brasileirão Série A
Vampeta, comentarista da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Vampeta considera que, entre todos os nomes à disposição, Alex Sandro é o melhor lateral-esquerdo brasileiro em atividade. Após o camisa 26 do Flamengo mostrar um nível impressionante contra o Palmeiras, o ex-jogador “cobrou” Ancelotti. Isso porque nenhum outro atleta da posição, dentro e fora do país, é visto com o mesmo nível, motivo pelo qual o retorno à seleção foi exigido. “Para mim, dos laterais-esquerdos que tem no futebol brasileiro, tanto quem joga em casa e joga fora, o melhor é o Alex Sandro. O Arana, quando é convocado, não joga bem. Ninguém joga bem nas duas laterais.”, disse o Velho Vamp, no Canelada, da Jovem Pan. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Se pegar o Alex Sandro, com 34 anos, é o melhor lateral-esquerdo. Tem que estar na relação desses dois jogos das Eliminatórias.”, acrescentou. Filipe […]
Shohei Ohtani touches 97 mph throwing batting practice, homers in first at-bat
NEW YORK — The 641 days that passed since Shohei Ohtani last threw against hitters on a big-league mound came amid some of the biggest changes of the 30-year-old’s life. He’s a World Series champion now who set more baseball history en route to a third Most Valuable Player trophy, has become a father, a husband, and, as notable as anything, changed his employer.AdvertisementOhtani took the mound to pitch batting practice at Citi Field on Sunday wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. He faced hitters for the first time since August 2023 and made his biggest progression yet toward actualizing his return to two-way play after undergoing a second major elbow operation.“I’ve gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter, and so to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different and certainly exciting,” […]
Knicks make starting lineup change as Tom Thibodeau goes with Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart in Game 3
Getty Images The predominant story of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals has been how badly the New York Knicks have performed with their starting lineup in the game. The five-man group of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns led the regular season with 940 total minutes played and leads the playoffs as well at 308, but its effectiveness waned as the months progressed, and in the playoffs, it's been downright bad.In those 308 postseason minutes, New York's starters have been outscored by 50 points. The group has been outscored by double digits in six of the 14 Knicks playoff games, and in the Eastern Conference finals, it has been outscored by 29 points in 43 minutes. With the Knicks trailing the Pacers 0-2 with an NBA Finals trip on the line, this group just isn't cutting […]
Sloppy start at 109th Indy 500 had ‘shades of 1992’
<!--> Bruce MartinSpecial to FOXSports.comINDIANAPOLIS — The cold winds of 1992 returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 33 years later for the start of Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500. It was back in 1992 on a bitterly cold day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, when pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero crashed on the Parade Lap.As the field entered the backstretch on the second parade lap, he gunned his machine to warm up the tires. The back end whipped around, and the car spun into the inside wall. The suspension was damaged enough that he could not continue, and he was out of the race before the green flag. Moments later, Philippe Gache lost control on cold tires and spun lazily into the apron of Turn 4. A couple extra pace laps were run, and the incidents delayed the start by about five minutes.By the […]
Gary Lineker emotionally signs off final Match of the Day ahead of BBC exit
An emotional Gary Lineker signed off his final appearance fronting Match of the Day, the BBC’s flagship weekly Premier League highlights show, after more than 25 years in the job.Lineker, 64, has presented Match of the Day since 1999, but is leaving the corporation altogether after he “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post that included a rat emoji.AdvertisementAfter a montage of his goals, Lineker opened the show with a quip, saying “it wasn’t meant to end this way”, before — after a brief pause — adding, “but with the title race over and the relegation places confirmed, the Champions League was all we had left to talk about”.During an interview with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot at the end of his side’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, Lineker was thanked by the Dutchman for being “such a great […]
Be the first to leave a comment