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Tim Hardaway Jr. Chooses Mark Bartelstein As Agent

Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates as he cuts the net after their victory over the Florida Gators 79-59 in the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates as he cuts the net after their victory over the Florida Gators 79-59 in the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. will be represented by Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment. Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

At one point-in-time it seemed as though Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. would be signing with Henry Thomas of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  After all, Hardaway Jr.’s father was represented by the agent throughout his successful career in the NBA.  Hardaway Jr. declared for the NBA Draft, as predicted, but he ended up going a different route concerning his representation.  Instead of Thomas, Hardaway will call Mark Bartelstein his agent.

Bartelstein is the CEO and Founder of Priority Sports & Entertainment, a company founded in 1985.  He is a certified NBPA agent and represents many NBA players, including Taj Gibson, David Lee, Steve Novak, Bradley Beal and Chandler Parsons.  His son also happens to be the former captain of the Michigan basketball team and roommate of Hardaway Jr.

As I wrote in my Final Four Basketball Agent Selection Scenarios article on April 4, “Do not count out Mark Bartelstein and Priority Sports & Entertainment when it comes to representing Michigan players.”  At the time, a source had told me that Bartelstein was not in the running due to a gentleman’s agreement he had with Michigan head coach John Beilein.  That agreement purportedly consisted of a promise made by Bartelstein to not represent any Michigan basketball players who were on the same roster as his son.  Obviously, the source was incorrect on this occasion.

And Mark Bartelstein’s son, Josh, is happy with his former roommate’s decision.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/Jbart20/status/329351436016164864″]

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.