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Kentucky’s Anthony Davis Hires Agents Arn Tellem and Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group

NBA prospect Anthony Davis is the extremely likely number one overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  The NCAA National Champion center/forward from the University of Kentucky had been going through a lengthy vetting process of agents, with the assistance of his father Anthony Davis, Sr., until late last week when he finally announced that he signed with Wasserman Media Group for representation.  Wasserman’s Vice Chairman Arn Tellem and EVP, Team Sports Thad Foucher will help Davis leading up to the NBA Draft and thereafter.

Various media entities reported that Davis and his father were choosing between Wasserman Media Group, Creative Artists Agency (basketball agent Leon Rose), and BDA Sports (basketball agent Bill Duffy).  At the beginning of last week, I had heard that the family was making a decision between Leon Rose of CAA and Arn Tellem of Wasserman.

Wasserman Media Group’s press release states that Anthony Davis has signed with the agency for “comprehensive representation.”  The phrase is an industry term, which typically means that the company will not only represent Davis in his contractual negotiations with the team that selects him in the NBA Draft, but will also represent his interests off the court (specifically regarding endorsement opportunities).

“We are thrilled that Anthony has chosen Wasserman and very much look forward to helping him launch what will undoubtedly be a hugely successful NBA career,” said Thad Foucher.  “I know that this decision is a critical one to help me get on the right track for the next stage of my basketball career and I did not come to it easily,” said Anthony Davis. “After speaking with many agents and advisors, it became clear to me that Wasserman was the best place for me. I am excited, and also relieved to have made this choice and look forward to starting my career knowing I am in great hands.”

Once Anthony Davis’ name is called by Commissioner David Stern at the 2012 NBA Draft, Wasserman Media Group will have accomplished a feat that will likely separate the company from its competition for years to come.  If When Anthony Davis becomes the first overall pick, Wasserman will be able to claim that it has represented the most recent number one pick in the NFL (Andrew Luck), MLB (Carlos Correa), and Major League Soccer (Andrew Wenger).

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.