Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James, believes that if there’s “room to grow” for the Los Angeles Lakers in one area, it’s adopting a “championship mindset” like the one Hall of Famer Pat Riley instilled with the Miami Heat. While doing so, he may have taken a shot at Luka Doncic.
“LeBron was always a pro, regardless of what Miami was,” Paul said on the debut episode of The Ringer’s “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” referring to the strong Heat culture ensuring all players remain in tip-top shape.
“It was never a thing of body fat, being out of shape, — none of that. None of those things.”
Paul was possibly referring to the Lakers not holding Luka Doncic accountable for not being in optimal physical shape during the 2024-25 season, which ended with a first-round playoff series loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lakers Can Learn from Heat
Paul explained why the Lakers could learn from the Heat on ensuring every player maintains optimal body fat and is in pristine physical condition for a playoff run.
“…Going back to mindset, Pat Riley’s mindset, Pat Riley had a championship mindset,” Paul said of the three-time NBA champions Heat.
“So the foundation is, ‘it don’t matter how upset you may be. We are doing this thing this way.’”
Paul acknowledged that historically great players like Kobe Bryant, Doncic and James warrant “preferential treatment” from franchises, but the cultural elements should remain the same regardless of the level of player.
“That [preferential treatment] has nothing to do with the foundation of you as an organization,” Paul said. “Just say, ‘no matter what, these things are what they are. When you come here, things don’t change.’”
“…If there was room to grow for the Lakers, it would be in that department.”
One wonders if Paul was referring to the Lakers not laying down the law for Doncic when he first arrived as part of the Anthony Davis trade last season.
Luka Doncic Conditioning Issues
Doncic was lambasted for his poor defense against the Timberwolves last season, after he set the highest blow-by percentage on drives in a postseason in 10 years.
Many former players felt Doncic’s poor defense was related to his conditioning and fitness, with even head coach JJ Redick urging his team to get into “championship shape” in the 2025-26 season to have a chance to win it all.
To Doncic’s credit, he internalized the criticism and returned to camp in the best shape of his eight-year NBA career. During the offseason, he committed to a new diet and fitness regimen, including a gluten-free, low-sugar diet and intermittent fasting.
The work the Slovenian is starting to pay dividends. Doncic is averaging a career-high 35.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists on 47% shooting. He’s also getting to the free-throw line at a career-high pace of 12.2 foul shots a game, a possible indicator of his improved conditioning and ability to absorb contact.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post LeBron James Agent Takes Veiled Shot at Lakers Star Luka Doncic appeared first on Heavy Sports.