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NBA Players Recruiting Sports Agents

Choosing The Right Agent

  • When should you declare for the NBA draft?
  • What pick do NBA execs believe you will be?
  • Who should you hire to help train you for pre-draft workouts/the pre-draft camp?
  • Who will hype up your value while you focus on becoming a better player?

John Givony of DraftExpress.com is correct; when tackling the decision to leave school early and enter one’s name in the NBA draft, no decision is more important than the selection of an agent [Navigating through the NBA Agent Selection Process]. Theoretically, the agent that a player chooses should have the answers to all of the questions posed above, and should be the #1 person to hype up such player.

Givony presents a list of questions for players and parents to ask potential agents to make sure that the one chosen fits the bill. It is quite an important decision…one that can boost your value or greatly reduce your stock.

Here is the abbreviated version of what Givony suggests you ask from each candidate:

  • A full list of every current and past player that has been represented by the agent.
  • If and why any of those players fired the agent in the past.
  • A list of contracts that have been negotiated on behalf of clients.
  • Were players marketed above/below their market value?
  • Contacts of the non-superstars that the agent has represented.
  • Were they also handled with care?
  • Level of expertise.
  • Do they have a law degree/MBA…are they studying to obtain one?
  • Ever had a client with a tough situation (ex: DUI)? How did agent handle it?
  • Is the agent registered in his/her state?
  • How many other players is the agent recruiting?
  • What services are offered besides contract negotiation?
  • Why should you choose this agent above competition?
  • What connections does the agent have overseas…just in case?
  • Does the agent have an overall roadmap?

NBA players are not the only ones that should be looking for answers to these questions. Participants in all sports that are looking for representation may benefit from learning more information their agent choices. If you are an athlete and you are looking for some more possible items to go over with a potential agent, check out this resource provided by the NCAA [QUESTIONS TO ASK PROSPECTIVE AGENTS]. It is also worthwhile for agents to look at the items from Givony and the NCAA in order to be prepared to tackle any questions that a future or current client may have.

Thanks to Joshua Golka at Athlete Agent / Sports Agent Regulation for the initial article tip.

-Darren Heitner

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.

2 replies on “Choosing The Right Agent”

Why not? It is not like Conley, Sr is a convicted felon and shady character, he’s very well respected in the sports world. He was a key member of the group that won the US bid for the ’16 Olympics, he’s been around sports his whole life…

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