Explore More
NBA super agent Rich Paul apparently was busy executing a discrete plan to purposely make one of his clients the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Paul — who is the CEO of Klutch Sports and LeBron James’ good friend and agent — was phoning teams in the second round and telling them not to draft his client, former Kentucky forward Chris Livingston, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The 6-foot-6 Akron-born athlete, a consensus five-star recruit, was eventually selected by the Bucks with the final pick in the draft at No. 58 overall — widely referred to as “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Although it may surprise some, there was an apparent method to the madness.
According to Charania, the 19-year-old Livingston received a draft guarantee from Milwaukee two weeks ago prior, and subsequently cancelled the remaining seven workouts he had planned.
Then, on Thursday, Paul reportedly began calling teams in the second round and requested them not to draft his client, as it was believed Livingston had a set draft spot in the second round.
Paul was seen at the draft, which took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and looked serious while on his phone.
The top agent, who is dating Grammy-winning singer Adele, reps several high profile clients in the league, including Anthony Davis, Draymond Green and Bulls legend Scottie Pippen’s son, Scottie Jr.
Livingston will now join a contending Milwaukee Bucks team led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Read the New York Post’s coverage for the 2023 NBA Draft:
Paul’s apparent strategy might have been influenced by the changes made to the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, which allows second-round picks to be signed on longer rookie deals.
According to Charania, the new CBA will create a new second-round pick exception that can be used so teams will no longer need to dip into the mid-level exception to sign second-rounders.
It was rumored that Livingston would go higher in the draft, even potentially joining James on the Lakers.
Livingston has referred to James — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — as “a mentor and a role model” as their relationship goes beyond the court.
James, a proud Ohio native, reportedly recruited Livingston to join his latest production project, “Shooting Stars,” which covers James’ life while growing up in Akron.
Livingston was eventually cast as the high school “rival” of James in the biopic, which released exclusively on Peacock on June 2.
Livingston spent one season at Kentucky, and averaged 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per contest in his debut season.
He played in 34 games for the Wildcats, starting in 26 of them.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7j29ma2tfZ31zf4ynmZpllKeup8CMq6CcoF2lrra4jK2mpZxdqbKiudJmpaisXam8brDRmp2tZZOdv6q%2FjKWgr6GenMC1u81o