Rich Paul Says Warriors’ Schedule Need to Change if LeBron James Joins
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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
Fans have long dreamed of seeing LeBron James and Stephen Curry play on the same NBA team. For many years, it was the kind of hypothetical pairing that fans could only discuss hypothetically or simulate in video games.
With James' free agency still headed in an unknown direction, conversations of him and Curry continue raging on. Should the 41-year-old sign with the Golden State Warriors, his agent, Rich Paul, believes the NBA should consider changing the schedule.
Since this pairing is literally made of dreams, Paul thinks most of the Warriors' games deserve to be nationally televised.
"The NBA will have to give them 60 nationally televised games," Paul said.
That statement received some pushback from Max Kellerman, who asked Paul if he really thinks Golden State would get that many.
"I'm being sarcastic," Paul said, which prompted Kellerman to ask him how many he really thought the Warriors would get.
"At least half," Paul replied.
He explained that during the peak of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Warriors rivalry in the mid to late 2010s, both teams had 30 nationally televised games each, but he admitted this number was a rough estimate.
A team getting half of its games broadcast on national TV can be considered a pipe dream.
During an 82-game season, not even the top teams receive the honor of 60 nationally televised contests. In fact, no one comes close.
For example, last season, the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Oklahoma City Thunder all had 34 nationally televised games, per USA Today.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets had the second most with 28, and the Denver Nuggets came in third with 26.
Since many expect this to be James' final season, it is understandable that the majority of fans want to tune in.
Adam Silver Is Waiting for LeBron James’ Decision Before Finalizing Schedule
Whatever LeBron James' decision will be will carry plenty of implications for the team he joins and the entire league.
In fact, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is waiting for him to make that decision. Only then can the league finalize the 2026-27 regular-season schedule.
Silver told CNBC that whatever James decides will affect next season's calendar. Important dates such as the league's tip-off, the Christmas Day slate, and other high-profile game days will need to be considered, depending on which team signs James.
If 2026-27, James' 24th season, is truly his last, then games will have to be strategically placed. Rivalry games and high-traffic days will need to be factored in to maximize the effect of the 4-time NBA MVP's gravity.
However, it seems James is still not rushing into anything. Speculations and rumors about where he'll play next continue to fly. Teams like the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers are holding their breaths, since they are considered the frontrunners to win this arms race.
Then there are squads like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets who aren't necessarily leading the conversation but remain possible destinations.
Ved Vaze