The following is the first contribution from new contributor Donovan Phillips. He graduated with a B.A in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is currently living in Berlin and working for a sports agency that represents basketball players.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bucks forward Jabari Parker has confirmed that he is leaving Wasserman Media Group and agent B.J. Armstrong. Though the exact reason is still unclear at this point, several other big-name players have left or have considered leaving Wasserman Media Group due to the departure of agent Arn Tellem. Arn left the agency during the off season to become the vice chairman of Palace Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Detroit Pistons.
A second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Parker has yet to chose a new agent but is still considering his options. The second year player with the Bucks is coming off an injury last year and is still playing on his rookie contract. He won’t be eligible for a new contract until 2017. The rising star’s departure is a big loss to the agency and represents a recent trend of high-profile basketball players deciding to part ways.
Parker’s departure follows other big-name players such as Hawks forward Al Horford, Blazers guard Gerald Henderson, Bulls center Pau Gasol, and Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. Though Wasserman is still a top agency in the industry, ranking #4 in Forbes list of Most Valuable Sports Agencies in 2015, with $1.5 billion dollars in contracts under management and $65 million dollars in commissions, it will be interesting to see how the agency handles these key losses and repositions itself in the basketball world without super agent Arn Tellem moving forward.