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NBA Players

AI’s Intelligence

Allen Iverson was in no way responsible for the death of Kevin Johnson, a man who was shot after refusing to give up the Iverson jersey he was wearing in 2003. AI had no obligation to help out Johnson’s family in a time of mourning. That being said, the fact that Allen Iverson has offered to pay for Kevin Johnson’s entire funeral service shows a certain classiness of someone that I definitely consider to be a role-model.

One of sport’s central debates is whether or not athletes are supposed to be role-models. Charles Barkley is famous for saying, “I don’t believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models.” But then again, don’t we all want to “Be like Mike?” I feel that whether or not an athlete wants to be a role-model, he/she becomes one as his/her prominence rises within the ranks of that person’s sport. The implications come in the form of monetary value as well. If a player has a good image and is a good role-model, that athlete stands to make a lot more money when it comes to endorsements, and teams will most likely take that player over someone who is a risk factor.

The story of what AI has just done for the Johnson family and his community of Philadelphia makes me want to “Be Like Iverson” and it gives me the hope that someday I will be able to represent a player who is in touch with the world around him/her.

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.