DeMarcus Cousins’ ‘weird’ reaction to Rich Paul’s criticism in LA
As it is The Los Angeles Lakers (17-6) prepare for the NBA Cup quarterfinal match against the San Antonio Spurs (16–7) Wednesday night at 10:00 PM ET on Prime Video, former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins rated the CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul’s recent public criticism of the team’s contending prospects.
Cousins discussed the remarks on the latest episode of FanDuel’s Run It Back, offering an honest and measured answer.
“It’s weird to me, too,” Cousins said. “Obviously, with all the talent in the Lakers’ starting five, you’d think otherwise. But it’s weird to hear Rich Paul say that, and his biggest client is LeBron James. So for me, it’s a bit more for that – it could be a strategy down the road. I’m not sure what the strategy is for, but I’m a bit optimistic about his words. But it’s strange and I think there are better teams in the West, so there’s some truth to that… but I don’t understand why he would say that.”
“It’s strange to hear Rich Paul saying this to his biggest client which is LeBron James.”
DeMarcus Cousins on LeBron’s agent saying the Lakers aren’t contenders 🗣
(via @RunItBackFDTV)
pic.twitter.com/vdiTf81Sk6 https://t.co/3v8iiMzDKT— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 10, 2025
Paul sparked a debate earlier this week on the Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul when he questioned the Lakers’ ceiling.
“I personally don’t think the Lakers are good enough to be a contender, not right now,” Paul said. “I don’t think they have enough to get to the VCF … that style of play will be very easy to guard when you get to the playoffs.”
Rich Paul does not consider the Lakers as candidates 😳
“I don’t think they have enough to get to the VCF… their style of play will be very easy to defend once you get into the playoffs”
(h/t @NBA__Courtside )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 9, 2025
DeMarcus Cousins calls Rich Paul’s Lakers comments “weird” ahead of NBA Cup game against Spurs
The comments come as the Lakers have grown despite injuries and rotation challenges. LeBron James, now in his 23rd NBA season, missed significant time while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves shouldered heavy offensive responsibilities to keep Los Angeles near the top of the Western Conference.
Through 23 games, the Lakers hold the No. 2 seed at 17–6 — tied with the Denver Nuggets — and trail only the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, whose historic 23–1 start includes a current 15-game winning streak. James has been a steady presence since returning from an early-season injury setback, averaging 16.1 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in seven appearances while shooting 46.4 percent from the field.
The Lakers now shift their focus to the NBA Cup quarterfinals in elimination style. Their opponent, San Antonio, has emerged as one of the surprises of the league’s early season behind strong defensive play, although Spurs will again be without Victor Wembanyama, who will miss his 12th straight game as he recovers from a strained left calf. The winner will advance to Las Vegas for the semi-finals.
Paul’s criticism — and Cousins’ reaction to it — comes at a crucial time. While Los Angeles has among the league’s strongest records, questions remain about roster depth, playstyle adaptability and long-term playoff viability. Cousins acknowledged that the Western Conference landscape is deep, but suggested that Paul’s unusually blunt comment could be fueled by motivations that are not yet public.
As Los Angeles enters a crucial stretch of its schedule, the organization must balance outside scrutiny with internal expectations — and Wednesday’s NBA Cup showdown will offer another measure of how far this roster can go.
2025-12-10 16:55:00
