This post will serve as part II to the original post: Want to be an NBA agent? created on January 12, 2006.
The impetus for creating another post on this topic was formed by an article from SportingNews.com [Ready for the big time].
Here are some of the important points in the article that may be used as an addition to the points covered in my first post on this topic:
- Send a letter to Robert Gadson over at the NBPA once you know you are interested in applying to be an NBA Agent.
- His address is: Two Penn Plaza, Suite 2430, New York, NY 10121.
- He will send back a big application with a variety of questions.
- Send it back completed with a check for $1500 and you will hopefully be certified in 30 days.
Note: In my first post on this topic, I mentioned that the application is available online, so it may be easier to bypass dealing with Robert Gadson altogether.
- At the end of this past season, there were 414 active players in the NBA, 313 registered agents, and 255 of those players being represented by the 12 biggest agencies.
Note: I have discussed how the NFL is cluttered with too many agents, and the NBA seems to follow suit. This statistic may influence future Sports Agents to get started with a big company at first due to the inherent advantage of experience and breadth that these companies have in the industry.
- Top picks want established agents as representation.
2006 draft representation:
- Arn Tellem = LaMarcus Aldridge, J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams, Brandon Roy
- Mark Bartelstein = Adam Morrison
- Bill Duffy = Rajon Rondo, Marcus Williams, Allan Ray, Paul Davis
- Octagon = Rudy Gay, Rodney Carney
- 59.7% of lottery picks in the past 5 drafts have gone through 7 agencies
Note: Once again, it is tough to break the power that the big agencies have in the NBA. The SportingNews article gives a great example of an agent losing a battle to even have a chance to represent former UMass player, Marcus Camby after forging great relationships with his various collegiate coaches. Marc Cornstein, a specialist in European players, claims that it is important to find your niche if you want to have any hope of entering into combat against the experience, respected powerhouses.
- It may be a good idea to offer jobs to people who are close to players that you wish to make your clients.
Note: This is legal and does not violate any NBPA rules. The suggestion is not to hire runners, but to hire someone that is close with a player that you are trying to sign and is someone that the player trusts.
- All it takes to lose your client is for him to file an official termination letter with the union. It takes 15 days before you are no longer that player’s agent. Jason “The Jet” Terry is on his 5th agent since 1999.
Note: There really is no security. My thoughts about this is that it may be advantageous not to spread yourself too thin and represent a multitude of athletes. It is more important that you are able to focus enough time for each of your clients, even if that means only representing one athlete. Remember…it’s the relationship that will keep the player by your side and allow you to sleep at night not worrying about being fired.
- “Do not sink too much into one guy.”
Note: This kind of goes against my last note that it may be worth it to only represent one client if you cannot devote enough time to more than one person. In a way, the more people you represent, the more you hedge your risk against completely losing your business if one client leaves you for another agent.
This is my absolute favorite part of the column: 3 Runners to beat down if you ever see them talking to your client.
- William Wesley – connected with agent Leon Rose.
- Eddie Lau – connected with agent Dan Fegan.
- Reggie Brown – connected with agent Mark Bartelstein.
Besides the constant use of calling the reader who may want to be an NBA agent by the name of “Skippy,” I thought that the article was very insightful for anyone who wishes to eventually gain access to the NBA marketplace. Hopefully we won’t be saying what a unanimous agent said in the article, which is “If I could do it all over again? I’d go into f — real estate.” That’s a gruesome thought.
[tags]nba, nba agent, sports agent, runners, npba, register agent[/tags]
