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NBA Players Sports Agents

Derrick Rose Has An Advantage

BJ ArmstrongThe Boston Celtics are getting a run for their money in the first round of this year’s NBA Playoffs.  They should have learned to take their first round opponents seriously after barely beating the Hawks in the first round last year.  Maybe it’s just that they did not expect the #1 overall pick from this year’s draft to have such a resounding impact in his first playoff series as a professional.  Derrick Rose has definitely stepped his game up, but I doubt his agent, B.J. Armstrong, is the least bit surprised.

Last week, Jonathan Abrams wrote a piece in the N.Y. Times that highlights the relationship between Derrick and B.J.  They do all the normal things that agents and their clients do, like talk about endorsement deals and other opportunities, but most importantly, B.J. can relate with Rose because they both played ball for the same professional team in different eras.  B.J. can not only prep Rose for his off-the-court matters as any agent would do, but can also lend insight on how to play the actual game.

How valuable is it for a client to not only be able to learn from his agent concerning business and legal issues, but also have his agent be a mentor in fine tuning his trade?  Derrick has both with B.J. Armstrong and WMG in his corner.  Game 5 is tonight.  I wonder if B.J. has any pointers for Rose leading up to tip-off.

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.