From LeBron to Maverick Carter to the industry muscle of the Creative Arts Agency, they relentlessly recruited Kyrie Irving. They wanted to do his contracts, his endorsements, everything. As it turns out, they would’ve marched right back into the life of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, with his next fresh-faced franchise star.

Together, James and his associates had lured Irving’s favorite player, Chris Paul, to the agency, and had James hard on the recruiting trail. No one should underestimate the power of James’ tweets toward a hot, young college and high school star, or a well-time phone call or text here and there.

For parts of Irving’s freshman season at Duke, rival agents believed LeBron’s camp would sign him. “They came very hard for Kyrie,” says an ex-Duke basketball player who spent time on campus this season. “… All over him.”