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Arn Tellem And Amar’e Stoudemire Invest In Israeli Basketball Team

New York Knicks power forward Amar'e Stoudemire (middle) reacts during the final minute of the game against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99.Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks power forward Amar'e Stoudemire (middle) reacts during the final minute of the game against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 106-99.Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire (middle) is teaming up with Arn Tellem to invest in basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem. Photo Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Shabbat Shalom comes a couple of days early with this article that combines sports agency and Israel.  The Jerusalem Post has reported that basketball and baseball agent Arn Tellem is part of a group that won the bid to purchase a ninety-percent interest in Israeli basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem.  Also included in the new ownership group is New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire.

The cost for ninety-percent of Hapoel Jerusalem comes out to roughly $5.6 million.  I am not too concerned that Stoudemire can afford his portion, considering he signed a 5-year $99.7 million contract in 2010.  Have little concern for Tellem, as well.  According to Hoopshype.com, Tellem represents more NBA salary under contract (at $273,565,306) than any other basketball agent.

Stoudemire is not a Tellem client.  The Knicks power forward is represented by Happy Walters of Relativity Sports.

In 2010, Stoudemire traveled to Israel to do some exploration of his Jewish roots on his mother’s side of the family.  Now he can visit Israel any time he wants for “business purposes”.

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.