NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoff - Pregame: Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: LeBron James of Lakers warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu California United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxTayfunxCoskunx
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoff - Pregame: Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: LeBron James of Lakers warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu California United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxTayfunxCoskunx
The media has never been lucky enough to first report LeBron James' free agency moves. It has always been either him or his agency that has reported it first. According to LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, it's because NBA stars' decisions are very personal.
This season was no different. LeBron announced his Philadelphia 76ers move on X. He wrote in a long message in his post detailing his motive behind his move to Philly.
"We did it from a company perspective because, you know, it's important for him to break his own news," Paul said on the Game Over podcast, posted by Chaz NBA on Thursday, July 30. "I didn't want anybody knowing anything because it just gets sloppy."
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 4 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks at the bench during the first half of the NBA Playoffs western conference semifinals game four between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 11 May 2026. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxINDxONLY Copyright: xCHRISxTORRESx
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 4 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks at the bench during the first half of the NBA Playoffs western conference semifinals game four between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 11 May 2026. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxINDxONLY Copyright: xCHRISxTORRESx
LeBron's moves have always been discussed and decided in a close circle. He broke the news about his Miami move with "The Decision" in 2010.
But as Paul pointed out, the announcement had to be made, especially where brands making merchandise were involved.
"I think this is probably the second time in a in a matter of a couple years where nobody didn't know anything," Paul added in the July 30 episode of the Game Over podcast. "I think what people don't understand is at a certain point you actually have to start letting people know."
In 2014, when James decided to come back to Cleveland, he broke the news with a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated on July 11, 2014. In 2018, his move to the Lakers was announced by Klutch Sports Group, his representative company.
Even Paul, his closest advisor, was in the dark until the final moment. But there was one signal that made him realize when LeBron James' mind was made.
Rich Paul reveals the signal that always confirms LeBron James' final free agency decision
Rich Paul has been friends with LeBron James for 24 years. Since then, their relationship has expanded to business. He has been around long enough to sense what the 4x NBA champion was thinking about his free agency.
According to Paul, the presence of one person is the paramount indication that James has made his decision.
"I know it's real when Savannah is in the room," he told Max Kellerman on the 'Mind the Game' podcast.
LeBron had previously said that his decision would depend on his family. He added that his daughter was pulling all the weight and that Savannah's approval would mean approval from his daughter.
Do you think LeBron made the best decision in this free agency? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Nandjee Ranjan
Edited by
Arundhoti Palit