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Tim Hardaway Jr. Chooses Mark Bartelstein As Agent

Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates as he cuts the net after their victory over the Florida Gators 79-59 in the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. will be represented by Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment. Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

At one point-in-time it seemed as though Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. would be signing with Henry Thomas of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  After all, Hardaway Jr.’s father was represented by the agent throughout his successful career in the NBA.  Hardaway Jr. declared for the NBA Draft, as predicted, but he ended up going a different route concerning his representation.  Instead of Thomas, Hardaway will call Mark Bartelstein his agent.

Bartelstein is the CEO and Founder of Priority Sports & Entertainment, a company founded in 1985.  He is a certified NBPA agent and represents many NBA players, including Taj Gibson, David Lee, Steve Novak, Bradley Beal and Chandler Parsons.  His son also happens to be the former captain of the Michigan basketball team and roommate of Hardaway Jr.

As I wrote in my Final Four Basketball Agent Selection Scenarios article on April 4, “Do not count out Mark Bartelstein and Priority Sports & Entertainment when it comes to representing Michigan players.”  At the time, a source had told me that Bartelstein was not in the running due to a gentleman’s agreement he had with Michigan head coach John Beilein.  That agreement purportedly consisted of a promise made by Bartelstein to not represent any Michigan basketball players who were on the same roster as his son.  Obviously, the source was incorrect on this occasion.

And Mark Bartelstein’s son, Josh, is happy with his former roommate’s decision.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/Jbart20/status/329351436016164864″]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.