“Need you to be the champion of change” - Rich Paul’s message to Draymond Green in the wake of suspensions

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In recent years, Rich Paul has become a prominent agent for some of the NBA's biggest stars. His recent disclosure about his candid conversation with Draymond Green exemplifies why veteran players trust him. Last season, when the former DPOY received extensive backlash for failing to adjust his demeanor and repeatedly leaving the Golden State Warriors vulnerable on the defensive end due to his repeated suspensions, Paul stepped in, providing Draymond with an honest assessment of the situation.

Rich Paul's message to Draymond Green

The Dubs faced immense challenges in their fit and performance last season, and Green was at the helm of all their troubles. The four-time NBA Champion received two suspensions in as many months, first for placing Rudy Gobert in a headlock and dragging him around the court, then for punching Jusuf Nurkic in the head.

As criticism mounted regarding Green's conduct and detrimental impact on the team, Paul warned Draymond that his continued villain-esque antics wouldn't just threaten his legacy but even hurt his options post-basketball career.

"He knows we're going to have a real conversation because we don't sugarcoat anything with each other. I said, you're a champion right?... I need you to do something for me, I need you to be the champion of change," Paul said on The Pivot Podcast. "You have a post-career, which most guys don't. You actually have a post-career. Most guys have to find their post-career; you actually have a post-career. We can't mess that up, because again going back to family, this ain't about you. It's about DJ, Cash, Olive, your wife, mom."

While being straightforward with an emotionally expressive player can be challenging, Paul's unfiltered and candid approach underscores his commitment to ensuring that each of his clients understands the broader and potential long-term implications of his actions.

Draymond has always been appreciative of Rich Paul

Draymond has always acknowledged Paul's instrumental role in elevating his career to greater heights. On a previous occasion, the 4-time All-Star commended the CEO of the Klutch Sports Group for not treating his clients as mere objects and negotiating their contracts for them but also guiding and mentoring them on managing their wealth.

Some might believe that having LeBron James' support makes everything easy for Paul and boosts his fame in NBA circles. Still, it's really the latter's daily hard work and interpersonal relationships with his clients that have made him the most reliable agent in modern times.