Rich Paul shares why he wished to represent Allen Iverson - "Allen Iverson to me was culture before people even understood what culture was"
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Klutch Sports has become one of the most powerful sports talent agencies in the NBA over the last couple of years. Its founder, Rich Paul, began with only his buddy LeBron James as his first “client,” but his business has significantly grown since then.
According to CBS, Paul has negotiated $4 billion worth of sports contracts, including an estimated $900 million during the past NBA offseason alone. But during his recent appearance on the All the Smoke Podcast, KS CEO revealed which NBA player he wishes he could’ve represented.
“For me, it’s Allen Iverson,” answered Paul. “What people don’t understand is, and Allen Iverson to me was culture before people even understood what culture was. And if you manage that particular person’s basketball player business the right way, this landscape today looks a lot different.”
Allen Iverson had it all
According to Paul, Iverson was a once-in-a-lifetime guy who had the entire country – rural or urban, mesmerized. As a basketball player, he was the most relatable because of his small stature. As a person, he was never afraid to express himself, and this realness endeared him to an entire nation.
Not only did Iverson impact the game of basketball with his ability to score, but he also revolutionized basketball fashion. He was the first player to stray away from the traditional NBA dress code by introducing a street and hip-hop look. Aside from that, he is credited with integrating hip-hop culture into the NBA.
“Obviously, everybody wanted to be like Mike. And Mike had the shoes and he had the whole nine. But AI had everything. He had the cornrows, he had the gang, he had the nostalgia, he had everything you could possibly imagine,” said Paul.
Paul said he could’ve turned AI into a billion-dollar brand
With all these, Paul said that Iverson’s influence was incredible and unmatched. And with that kind of range, it’s hard to put a price on the dynamics. Back in 2021, Paul even claimed that in an alternate universe, he would’ve built Iverson into a billion-dollar brand.
“Allen Iverson’s impact post-Michael Jordan was second to none. I believe if you take Allen Iverson out of Georgetown, I want him prior to being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers number one. Give me Allen Iverson leaving Georgetown coming to the league, and today Allen Iverson would have a billion-dollar brand,” Rich once said.
Unfortunately for Iverson, Rich Paul wasn’t around when he was on top of the world. Without the proper guidance, AI wasn’t able to capitalize on his potential. Instead, he ended up almost getting broke. Still, watching him bounce back and see where he is right now is a testament to how powerful and influential he is up to this day.