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Yi Jianlian Is Looking Good And Good Looking

Sexy Yi Jianlian“He’s young, good looking, stays out of trouble and has a sizable following.” Name that player. Jacoby Ellsbury? Adrian Peterson? Actually, the statement was made by Grace Chen of William Morris Agency (WMA) and he was referring to his client, Yi Jianlian [Not just a face in the crowd].

WMA is very convinced that Yi will not only become a larger name in China, but that he will become bigger than Yao in the United States. To prove this, the company has put together a team of ten employees to focus on Yi’s business activities.

So it looks like WMA has secured a spot on Yi’s roster of agents. WMA will control all of Yi’s “off the court” deals and Dan Fegen will handle his contractual negotiations with NBA teams. The interesting point is that WMA does not seem concerned in the slightest about Yi playing in Milwaukee (instead of a larger American market). Contrast that to how Dan Fegen felt right after his client was picked by the Bucks [What Would Ari Do?].

I think that Fegan made a very smart move to involve WMA in Yi’s representation team. By hiring an external marketing team, Fegan will be able to correct his early mistakes when he distanced his client from the city of Milwaukee and allow his client to be aligned with a huge, experienced marketing agency in WMA. This should be a lesson to all agents. If you cannot handle a certain aspect of the business on your own, look outward and seek other entities to aid your clients’ success.

-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.

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