Game Over with Max Kellerman & Rich Paul

Episode: NBA Debates, Dealing With Poor Performances, and Team Camaraderie
Host: The Ringer
Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

Max Kellerman and Rich Paul dive deep into NBA debates, analyze the impact of “winning players” vs. stars, explore the psychology of poor performances, and discuss team chemistry. From breaking down Desmond Bane and the value of great role players, to real talk about dealing with bad games and peer relationships on pro teams, this episode provides both big-picture insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Rich Paul’s life as a super-agent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Are the Top NBA Shooting Guards?

(Starts ~05:21)

• Max and Rich debate the value and ranking of shooting guards, focusing on Desmond Bane, Austin Reaves, Norman Powell, and the usual stars (Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell).
• Rich Paul is skeptical of rigid rankings, preferring to talk in terms of "tiers" and “winning players.”

Notable Quotes:

• “Is Desmond Bane a top five two guard?” (Max, 07:24)
• “For me, yeah, I like Desmond Bane because he’s a winning two guard.” (Rich, 07:27)
• “I really hate those conversations... most people are looking at stats, style of play... but when you’re talking about winning, having a structured, selfless team, Desmond Bane is a top five.” (Rich, 07:34)
• “When you have guys that embrace their role... that normally leads to winning.” (Rich, 08:45)
• “Austin has really, really, really took a step. I don’t know where he fits in. I know he’s a damn good player.” (Rich, 10:53)

Tier Talk:

• Instead of top-5 lists, Rich prefers classifying players as Tier 1 (stars like Edwards, Booker, Mitchell) and Tier 2 (players like Bane, Powell, and Reaves who contribute to winning).

2. The Underrated Value of "Winning Players"

(Starts ~17:42)

• Discussion on players who might never get star-level credit but are essential for championships (KCP for Denver, Norman Powell, etc.).
• Max and Rich agree Bane’s contract is a reflection of his unique, winning skillset, even if he's not a top-3 star.
• The conversation highlights the tough choices teams make due to salary cap constraints.

Notable Quotes:

• “KCP won’t ever get top two guard credit, but in a championship moment… he made big shots and stops.” (Rich, 18:05)
• “If you have a team of five guys who all do their job as well as Desmond Bane does his job, you can win a championship, in my opinion.” (Max, 32:22)

3. The Thin Line Between All-Stars & Role Players

(Starts ~24:14)

• Explores how teams often keep winning even when star players are out, due to depth and versatile modern role players.
• The difference between “just another guy” and an All Star is narrower than ever, but playoff basketball still demands higher-level talent.

Notable Quotes:

• “Nowadays, everyone’s more capable of doing a little more than they used to be.” (Max, 25:20)
• “When a guy like Trae Young goes down… it’s not a matter of better or not, just a different style of play.” (Rich, 25:20)

4. Embracing Roles for Team Success

(Starts ~27:59)

• Rich shares agent insights: Many top-ranked prospects fail because they never learn to play without the ball or embrace a role.
• Personal storytelling about his father’s "fanny pack" analogy—players don’t need a “bag,” just what fits their (typically smaller) team role.

Notable Quotes:

• “The biggest reason why you see a kid ranked very high who doesn’t make it—it’s because they never learn how to play without the ball.” (Rich, 27:59)

5. The Knicks’ Roster, Team Building, and the Limits of “Doing Everything Right”

(Starts ~31:32)

• Max argues the Knicks’ current starting five has no gaping holes but still isn’t quite “championship level” because their talent ceiling isn’t as high as true contenders.
• The acquisition of players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby exemplifies the push for "winning" wings, but Max says their skill sets need to be “pitched higher.”

Notable Quotes:

• “If Bridges was a little bit more of what they thought they were getting, the Knicks would be viewed differently.” (Max, 44:10)
• “I think they went and got Mikal Bridges because the year before, they lost to Boston…and you need defenders to guard those guys.” (Rich, 45:15)

6. Rich Responds to Criticism of His Negotiation Tactics

(Starts ~35:20)

• Rich defends the negotiation behind Tristan Thompson’s contract, explaining the value of being able to embrace and perfect your role—even if you don’t fill up box scores.
• Addresses a common narrative that client leverage (“LeBron got him paid”) oversimplifies why certain players are compensated well.

Notable Quotes:

• “That’s BS…when you have a big that switches one-through-five, and maybe doesn’t stop a guy, but makes it hard, that’s worth real money.” (Rich, 35:43)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

Rankings Debate:

• Max repeatedly tries to pin Rich down on a top-5 two guard list. Rich resists:
  • “I don’t really give a shit about the top five.” (Rich, 11:07)
  • “You refuse to rank. I thought it was going to go viral—Rich Paul ranks his top five shooting guards. You absolutely refused.” (Max, 48:35)

Player Mentality & Dealing with Bad Performances

(Starts ~51:41)

• Using Jalen Hurts’ recent struggles as an example, Rich explains a good agent tailors their approach to a player’s personality and the situation:
  • “Some guys like to talk about it to get it off their chest after the game…you have to have a very short memory in our league or in any professional league.” (Rich, 53:12)
  • “The differentiator is mindset…at this level, it’s 90% mental because it’s a roller coaster.” (Rich, 53:49)

The Psychology of Drops & Mistakes (Kelce, A.J. Brown)

(Starts 56:05)

• Max explores whether high-profile drops are about skill decay or underlying psychological tension.
  • “It’s not like you forget how to catch. … When Kelsey drops a pass, it feels to me like there’s something going on psychologically, like on some level he doesn’t believe he deserves it.” (Max, 56:05)
• Rich pivots to team camaraderie and the hidden importance of off-court bonding.
  • “When you have a good thing going, how do you recognize the good in it? Sometimes you have to go... sit with him.” (Rich, 59:15)

Player Career Choices: Winning vs. Money

(Starts ~64:17)

• Deep dive into how star or breakout players (e.g., Austin Reaves) weigh the financial trade-offs of staying with a legacy franchise versus chasing bigger contracts elsewhere.
  • “Most players are competitive enough, they’re like, I want to win a championship up to about 10-15% of their earnings. Then they’re like, let me get the money.” (Max, 66:05)
  • “If there’s like an $80 million difference…and the cost of living is cheaper…you’re not making $80 million up.” (Rich, 67:10)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 05:21 - Desmond Bane, role players vs. stars discussion begins
• 10:43 - Austin Reaves, role player ceiling
• 17:15 - Tiers of shooting guards; KCP, Norman Powell discussion
• 24:14 - All-Star impact vs. deep, versatile role team
• 27:59 - Embracing roles and agent advice anecdote
• 31:32 - Knicks’ roster as a “do all the right things” chemistry test
• 35:20 - Tristan Thompson negotiation, the leverage myth
• 51:41 - Agents/coaches on how to handle players’ bad games
• 56:05 - Psychology of critical mistakes (Kelce, A.J. Brown)
• 59:15 - Team camaraderie: lunches, off-court bonding
• 64:17 - Austin Reaves’ next contract and the win-vs-money dilemma

Tone & Style

• Light, banter-filled with grounded honesty: Playful jabs about fashion, rankings, and top-5 debates keep things accessible while providing real agent and player perspective.
• Candid and practical: Rich brings a matter-of-fact, “coachable” mindset, with stories from both his client interactions and personal life.
• Analytical: Max pushes for structure and rankings, but also boasts a nuanced understanding of what separates true difference-makers from “just another good player.”

Conclusion

This episode pulls back the curtain on NBA team-building—how players, stars, and agents view winning, roles, and personal legacy. Rich Paul’s emphasis on accepting (and perfecting) roles as the engine of success—weaving in client and player anecdotes—contrasts with Max’s push for categorizable greatness and ceiling-raising talent. They share actionable insights for fans, players, and anyone interested in what makes teams truly click—or fall short—in the ultra-competitive world of pro sports.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Expect provocative NBA debates (especially on player ranking and roles)
• Learn how top agents think about building teams and guiding players through adversity
• Hear what really matters in a locker room—and the unglamorous skills that swing championships
• Get both the granular details (e.g., agent negotiations, the danger of rigid analytics) and the soft skills (chemistry, camaraderie, self-awareness)
• All in a bantering, back-and-forth style that keeps the sports talk both real and relatable