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Steve Kerr Gains Golden State Warriors Job With Help Of Mike Tannenbaum

TV announcers Steve Kerr (left) and Marv Albert (right) announce before the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Baylor Bears at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The following serves as the first contribution for new Sports Agent Blog contributor D’Bria Bradshaw.  Bradshaw is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and is about to begin her J.D. studies at Charlotte School of Law.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.

TV announcers Steve Kerr (left) and Marv Albert (right) announce before the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Baylor Bears at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
TV announcers Steve Kerr (left) and Marv Albert (right) announce before the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament. Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Former New York Jets General Manager, Mike Tannenbaum, now head of Priority Sports & Entertainment Coaches, Front Office & Broadcasters Division has landed client Steve Kerr the new head coaching job with the Golden State Warriors. Kerr is accepting a reported 5 year, $25M offer from the Warriors.

Kerr played in the NBA from 1988-2003 where he won a total of 5 NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. After Kerr’s 15 year stint in the league he became a broadcast analyst for TNT and then joined the Phoenix Suns front office as President and General Manager.

Questions regarding the legality of Tannenbaum’s representation of Kerr have surfaced due to Priority Sports & Entertainment representation of NBA players. According to the NBPA Regulations and Governing Player Agents, “To further effectuate the objectives of these Regulations players agents are prohibited from: Representing the General Manager or coach of any NBA team (or any other management  representative who participates in the team’s deliberations or decision concerning what compensation is to be offered individual players) in matters pertaining to his employment or any other matters in which he has any financial stake by or association with any NBA team.”  Tannenbaum has not violated any of the rules set forth by the NBPA, because while the agency he works for does also represent NBA players, he only provides services to coaches, front office personal, and broadcasters.

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.