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On To The Next One: Chris Smith

New York Knicks shooting guard Chris Smith speaks to the media at the MSG Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks shooting guard Chris Smith speaks to the media at the MSG Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Former New York Knicks shooting guard Chris Smith has signed with CAA basketball agent Leon Rose. Photo Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that point guard Chris Smith changed agents.  He was formerly represented by Marc Cornstein, but was projected to change to his brother’s agent Leon Rose at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  Chris Smith’s brother is the popular New York Knicks player J.R. Smith.

Chris Smith played a couple of years of college ball at Manhattan College before transferring to the University of Louisville for his junior and senior seasons.  Chris went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, but signed a contract with the New York Knicks in August 2012.  He was waived two months later after suffering a knee injury.

It is looking like Chris and J.R. will be back together in New York next year with the Knicks.  However, in order for that to happen, Chris will need to have his new agent structure a new deal that makes it worthwhile for the organization.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/3_ChrisSmith/statuses/335980859880521729″]

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.