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Time to Hire an Agent

Guest contribution by loyal reader and current Q2 intern, Michael Goldman.

While the D’antoni era in New York is off to a vast improvement from the Lenny Wilkins-Larry Brown-Isiah Thomas era, the Knicks thus far are posting a 5-3 record and not all is peaceful in the Big Apple.  The most unsettling situation in the Knicks’ clubhouse is the current disposition of Stephon Marbury.  The agent-less Marbury has been adamant about not accepting a buy-out despite being inactive since opening day, but that stance may be changing.  On Thursday, Marbury met with team president Donnie Walsh to finally discuss a buyout.

Maybe it is time for the aging point-guard to hire a new agent.  According to the New York Daily News, several NBA executives expressed that Marbury needed an agent, and that was before serious talks of a buy-out had been brought to the table.  “Stabury” had this to say at the time:

“Why do I need an agent?” Marbury said. “I’m not waived so I can’t speculate on that right now. I don’t need an agent and I wouldn’t get an agent. An agent isn’t going to tell me, Mr. Walsh or Mr. Dolan what to do. They’re just going to do the same thing that I’m going to do. And that’s talk.”

Will Stephon’s opinion change now that he might be on the free agent market?  According to the New York Post, Players Association attorney Hal Biagas accompanied Marbury to Thursday’s meeting.  Marbury even asked Walsh to grant him the right to talk to other NBA teams, which Walsh is expected to grant shortly.  Perhaps Marbury can navigate the league on his own.  Gilbert Arenas successfully negotiated a new contract for himself, but with the same team.  Marbury showed his business skills by starting a sneaker line in conjunction with Steve & Barry’s, rather than just seeking a sneaker & apparel sponsorship from one of the big companies.  Maybe this initiative will translate to him landing on a new team.  As a Knicks fan I’m sad to see Marbury go, despite the W’s.  Whether he hires an agent or not I hope to see him on the court again soon.

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.