Rich Paul Basically Runs the NBA Now and He's Only Going to Get More Powerful

Folks, it's time we realize (or at least come to terms with) just how much say and power that Rich Paul, President and Founder of Klutch Sports, has in the NBA.

Sure, when you're LeBron James' agent your name is going to be well known in the Association, but Paul also represents All-Stars like Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons and John Wall. Per Forbes, Rich has negotiated over $624 million in current contracts.

The renowned agent was named as the feature cover of this week's edition of "Sports Illustrated." Seriously. How often does an AGENT achieve this feat?

Paul is literally taking over the NBA and there's not a darn thing we can do about it. Though he's been a household name for several years, his true power came to life earlier in the season when he demanded that the New Orleans Pelicans trade his star client in a brazen, yet obvious attempt to reunite him with LBJ in Los Angeles.

He knew exactly what he was doing by breaking the news that a top-five player in the league wanted out of a place he's called home for the last seven years. And no, we don't want to hear your rebuttals that Paul was just looking out for the best interests of his client.

The Klutch Sports founder even has so much pull that he's able to "warn" other franchise's about pursing Davis and not have it deemed as tampering by commissioner Adam Silver.

And finally, he somehow managed to hold a conversation with Silver about Luke Walton not being the right coach for LeBron and the Lakers without issue.

We're realists, and the truth is that the NBA has become Rich Paul's world, and we're just living in it.