Rich Paul Reflects on LeBron’s Miami Move, Admits He Was “Furious” - But Wrong
It’s been over 15 years since LeBron James shook up the NBA landscape by leaving Cleveland for Miami, but the ripple effects of “The Decision” are still being felt-and talked about. On a recent episode of the Game Over podcast, LeBron’s longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul, opened up about how he really felt when James chose to team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on South Beach back in 2010.
“I’m the biggest LeBron critic of all critics,” Paul said. “I did not like LeBron going to Miami.
D-Wade told the story. I didn’t speak to him or Chris Bosh at all.
I was furious. But I was wrong.”
That’s a rare bit of candor from someone who’s been in LeBron’s inner circle for decades. At the time, Paul wasn’t just a business partner-he was a close friend watching James take a leap that would redefine his career and legacy. And while the move sparked backlash from fans and media alike, it also kickstarted one of the most dominant runs in modern NBA history.
Let’s rewind for a second. When LeBron hit unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2010, the entire league stopped to watch.
Teams lined up: the Bulls, Clippers, Knicks, Nets, Cavaliers, and, of course, the Heat. Every pitch was grand.
Every meeting was high-stakes. But when LeBron sat down on national TV and said he was “taking his talents to South Beach,” the basketball world exploded.
The Heat’s Big Three went on to reach four straight NBA Finals and win two championships. It was the moment LeBron went from hometown hero to global icon-a move that changed the trajectory of the league and how stars approached free agency.
Rich Paul now admits he didn’t see the vision at first. But as history played out, it became clear: LeBron knew exactly what he was doing.
Fast forward to today, and James is still rewriting the script-both on and off the court. In October 2025, he stirred the pot again with a teaser titled The Second Decision.
Fans braced for a bombshell: Was he retiring? Requesting a trade?
Plotting another chapter? Turns out, it was a well-played ad campaign.
Classic LeBron-always in control of the narrative.
But if there was any doubt about what he’s still capable of between the lines, his most recent outing against the Utah Jazz erased it. At nearly 41 years old, James turned in a vintage performance: 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. That’s not just impressive-that’s unheard of at this stage of a career that’s already spanned over two decades.
The Lakers came out on top, 143-135, in a high-octane battle. Luka Dončić was phenomenal in his own right, logging a jaw-dropping 45-point triple-double with 14 assists and 11 rebounds in 40 minutes. The game was a showcase of two eras colliding-LeBron’s enduring brilliance and Luka’s rising dominance.
Marcus Smart also chipped in with a solid 17 points, four rebounds, and an assist in 28 minutes, helping the Lakers secure their 19th win of the season. At 19-7, they’re sitting comfortably in the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings, with the Clippers up next on the schedule at the Intuit Dome.
LeBron James may have made his controversial choice back in 2010, but looking back, it’s hard to argue with the results. And now, even Rich Paul-who once couldn’t speak to him out of frustration-can admit it: LeBron made the right move.