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How to be a basketball agent

6 Key Steps to Make It Happen

Trade Schools Home > Articles > How to Become a Sports Agent

By Publisher
| Last Updated November 19, 2020

Becoming a high-earning sports agent for pro athletes is something you can do in several different ways. But getting a college degree is recommended. And you'll need to earn the appropriate licensing, registration, and/or certification. Plus, you can significantly boost your prospects by completing an internship at a sports agency.

Are you eager to learn how to become a sports agent who represents athletes at the highest levels of competition? This article has the details you need to know. It outlines a six-step process you can follow to launch a rewarding career in this exciting field. It also provides information about the average sports agent salary and how people in this cool profession get paid.

Essentially, you become a sports agent by getting the appropriate licensing, registration, or certification from your state and/or the sports leagues you hope to deal with. The specific steps vary somewhat depending on the state and the league. But generally, you must get a bachelor's or graduate degree, undergo a background check, pass an exam, and pay a fee. The whole process is explained in greater detail below.

You don't need a specific degree to become a sports agent. That means you have a range of options. As you will discover, some agents get bachelor's degrees in areas like sports management, marketing, or business. And many sports agents complete law school or get advanced degrees like MBAs.

So check out the following sections to learn how to be a sports agent:

How to Become an Agent

Do you dream of building business relationships with top-performing athletes? If so, follow these six steps to get started:

1.

Understand what the profession entails.

What does an agent do? Most people know that a big part of the job involves dealing with contract negotiations and handling endorsement deals. But there's much more to the career than that.

Here's a typical sports agent job description: "…advocating for and managing the careers of athletes and sports competitors…" Yes, agents conduct salary and contract negotiations. But they also manage their clients' public images and look out for athletes' long-term interests after retiring from competition.

So, what do sports agents do in a typical week? They supply necessary support to the athletes they represent, aiming to help them perform and excel. As an agent, you might:

The best sports agents are charismatic, persistent, self-directed, personable, and willing to take risks for their clients. Plus, they are immersed in the sports world: They understand how recruiting and drafting work and who the key players, managers, owners, and teams are. They're also familiar with salary caps and the rules and regulations that apply to each sport. Many top sports agents have pro sports backgrounds and an extensive network of contacts within the industry.

To be an effective sports agent, communication, negotiation, sales, and marketing skills are essential. You need to understand the basics of contract law and legal documentation and be able to build relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Speaking more than one language can also be helpful.

Becoming a sports agent means committing to lots of travel and a variable schedule. You may handle hundreds of phone calls a day, and you might need to be available to your clients around the clock. But if you're a shrewd negotiator who is passionate about the business aspect of sports, this may be the career for you.

2. Earn a degree.

Technically, no formal education is needed to become a sports agent. But realistically, your odds of success are much better if you get at least an undergraduate degree. Some pro sports leagues require agents to have a bachelor's degree (or even a master's) to become certified.

Many agents start by earning sports management bachelor's degrees. Such programs typically offer instruction in sports economics, ethics, brand management, marketing, negotiation, and event planning. Many also include sports agency internships that can give you valuable real-world experience.

Graduate-level training can be very beneficial. For instance, an MBA program can help you acquire the high-level business acumen to be effective at the bargaining table.

Many sports agents are lawyers or have law degrees. Indeed, studying contract law and the details of collective agreements is excellent preparation for this career. And if you pass the bar exam in your state and become a licensed attorney, you will be permitted to offer legal advice about athletes' contracts.

However, you don't need to go to law school to be a sports agent. Some agents develop partnerships with attorneys to ensure that the legal aspects of deals and contracts are fully taken care of.

3. Get licensed and/or registered by your state.

Some states, such as Florida and California, require agents to be licensed before they can broker deals on behalf of an athlete. In particular, state licensing is often required if you work with wrestlers, boxers, or mixed martial artists since those sports have a greater risk of injury. Becoming licensed typically involves filling out an application form, divulging any criminal history you may have, and paying a fee.

Plus, in most states, agents must be registered to negotiate contracts or endorsement deals for student-athletes who want to go pro. That means you must provide information about your education and experience. You must also disclose if you have:

Been convicted of a felony
Provided misleading information to a student-athlete
Had a sports agent license suspended, denied, or revoked
Done anything to cause the ineligibility, suspension, or sanction of a student-athlete

In addition, you may need to purchase a surety bond or liability insurance. Be sure to check with your state board of licensing to determine what rules apply where you live.

In 2019, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) amended its rules to allow men's college basketball players who declare for the NBA draft to hire agents and still retain their college eligibility in some circumstances. However, such agents must be certified by the NCAA. To qualify, agents must:

Have a bachelor's degree OR be currently certified as an NBA agent
Have been NBA-certified for at least three years in a row
Maintain liability insurance
Pass a written exam administered by the NCAA
Pay the $1,500 fee

You must reapply for NCAA agent certification every year.

4. Become certified by the appropriate league.

Each professional league has its own certification process for agents. Here's how to become a certified sports agent for the four biggest leagues in the U.S.:

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Becoming an NBA agent requires having a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year school. It's possible to become a certified agent without a degree if you have several years of relevant negotiating experience. The players' association grants such waivers on a case-by-case basis. (The most famous example is LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, who does not have a college degree.)

NBA agent requirements include paying a $1,500 fee, submitting to a background check, and passing a multiple-choice exam covering the collective bargaining agreement and the regulations governing NBA agents. Applications are accepted during a specified period each year; the exam is offered each January in New York City.

To maintain NBA sports agent certification, you must pay an annual fee based on the number of players you represented in the previous season. Agents with fewer than ten clients pay $2,500, while the top NBA sports agents representing at least 20 players pay $7,500. You must also attend a seminar each year for the first three years and negotiate and fulfill a contract between at least one player and an NBA team during a five-year period.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

The MLB agent certification process consists of completing the application form, paying the $2,000 fee, and submitting a copy of your standard representation agreement. You must also undergo a background check and pass an open-book exam that tests your knowledge of MLB rules, the collective bargaining agreement, the drug agreement, and MLB agent regulations. Even after all that, you are not certified until at least one player designates you as his agent within three years of passing the exam.

If you submit your completed application by June 1, you will be able to take the written test in August or September. (The actual exam date is announced each spring.) Maintaining your certification requires paying a $1,500 fee each year.

National Football League (NFL)

The NFL requires its agents to have a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree (either a master's or a law degree) from an accredited university or college. Top NFL sports agents like Drew Rosenhaus and Tom Condon have law degrees. However, exceptions are sometimes made for candidates who have bachelor's degrees and at least seven years of negotiating experience.

You must also pay the $2,500 application fee, consent to a background investigation, attend a two-day seminar in Washington, D.C., and pass an open-book exam. The exam covers the salary cap, collective bargaining agreement, player benefits, NFL agent regulations, and performance-enhancing drugs and substance abuse policies.

Applications must be filed in January. Once you have passed the exam, you must also purchase liability insurance from an NFL-approved provider before you are allowed to recruit or represent any players.

To maintain your certification, you must attend a seminar each year and pay an annual fee that ranges from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the number of players you represent.

National Hockey League (NHL)

To become an NHL agent, you must fill out an application form and provide details of your educational background and current and past business dealings. To get further information and request application materials, you must contact the players' union in writing. You can do so by emailing [email protected].

5. Complete an internship.

An essential step in learning how to get a job at a sports agency involves looking for internships. These can give you a real-world understanding of how contracts are structured and how the business end of sports works. Plus, completing an internship can boost your odds of landing a more permanent position within the industry. Some agencies recruit exclusively from their internship programs and don't even hire external candidates.

As an intern, you might work in marketing, contracts, public relations, or other areas. On a day-to-day basis, you might:

Track player stats
Develop schedules
Coordinate travel arrangements
Monitor media coverage
Create press kits
Help write scouting reports
Assist with event staging

Positions may be seasonal or available year-round. Some internships come with a small hourly wage of $10 to $14; many others are unpaid but offer college credit.

Sports management degree programs frequently include internships, but many agencies accept interns from a range of majors. Typically, interns must be current students, but some positions are open to recent graduates as well.

Don't limit yourself. Apply everywhere and be prepared to take whatever you can get. For instance, if you're hoping to represent basketball players, but you have a chance to be an intern at a baseball agency, go for it. Becoming a sports agent is highly competitive, and any experience you can get will help you in the long run.

6. Build your career.

It can take years to become a sports agent who has the expertise and experience to attract clients, so don't expect instant success. Remember that this job is about cultivating lasting personal relationships with athletes, coaches, journalists, and other industry insiders. Completing an internship is an excellent way to build your professional network. Still, you should always be looking to develop new contacts.

And remember that happy clients are the best form of advertising. Provide excellent service and deliver what you promise. You will have a much greater chance of expanding your client roster.

How Much Do Sports Agents Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median sports agent salary was about $73,740 in 2019. "Median" means that half of all agents made more than that amount, and half made less. The BLS also notes that the average salary of a sports agent in 2019 was about $97,170.

Earnings vary widely in this field. That's because sports agents may charge a percentage of player earnings, a flat fee, an hourly rate, or any combination of those three methods. The general rule is that the more a client earns, the more an agent makes. In North America, the sports that pay the most are typically basketball and baseball, but that can vary.

Some leagues limit agent commissions. For instance, an NFL agent can't charge more than three percent of a player's contract, and an NBA agent's salary is capped at four percent of a player's earnings. (Agents sometimes take a lower percentage. For instance, ESPN reporter Darren Rovell estimates that LeBron James pays his agent 2.85 percent, which amounted to $947,310 in 2018.)

The MLB does not have an official cap on commissions, but the standard agent fee is five percent. MLB rules stipulate that agent fees cannot leave a player with take-home pay less than the league minimum salary.

However, agents can take a greater percentage of athletes' marketing deals—typically anywhere from 10 to 25 percent. And in sports like golf and tennis, where there are no guaranteed salaries, agents only earn commissions on sponsorship and endorsement deals, not on athletes' winnings.

So if they have a long client roster or represent high-profile players, sports agents make good money. The highest paid sports agents make tens of millions of dollars a year. Forbes says that the wealthiest sports agent in the U.S. is Scott Boras, who represents dozens of big-name baseball players like Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer. Boras makes over $100 million in commissions.

According to Forbes, some of the other top sports agents that have earned multimillion-dollar commissions include:

Mark Bartelstein (basketball)
Jeff Berry (baseball)
Pat Brisson (hockey)
Casey Close (baseball)
Tom Condon (football)
Todd France (football)
Adam Katz (baseball)
Seth and Sam Levinson (baseball)
Dan Lozano (baseball)
Rich Paul (basketball)
Leon Rose (basketball)
Drew Rosenhaus (football)
Jeff Schwartz (basketball)
Joel Segal (football)
Joel Wolfe (baseball)

What's the Job Outlook?

The job outlook for sports agents is positive. According to BLS projections, the employment of agents in the sports and entertainment realms is expected to grow 10 percent between 2018 and 2028. On average, about 2,600 total job openings for agents are projected to become available each year over that time period.

However, sports agent jobs are highly coveted, and competition for available positions can be fierce. That's why, as noted above, internships are typically the best way to land entry-level sports agency jobs. You can make yourself even more appealing to potential clients and employers by developing expertise in Internet marketing, social media, and community outreach.

It's a good idea to research various agencies to see what sports they specialize in and what services they offer. Some of the biggest sport agent companies are:

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Wasserman
Excel Sports Management
Octagon
Independent Sports & Entertainment (ISE)

But there are dozens of others. And don't overlook smaller organizations that may have fewer applicants jockeying for positions. You never know where an opportunity may arise.

Fulfill Your Ambitions

As you've now discovered, learning how to become a sports agent can take you down a number of different routes. So it's definitely worth your while to check out the broad array of streamlined degree programs offered by adult-friendly colleges and vocational schools. Why not start exploring your options right now? Just put your zip code into the search tool below to generate a list of convenient programs!

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Become a Basketball Agent

The Global Leader in Sports Agent Training /

Basketball Agent Course

^{In just eight weeks, you can learn how to represent pro athletes and start your career as a basketball agent.}

NEXT START DATE: January 9
Weekly Live Interactive Zoom Chats with NBA Agent Bret Kanis & FIBA Agent Jan Wieland

NEXT START DATE:
January 9
Weekly Live Interactive Zoom Chats with NBA Agent Bret Kanis & FIBA Agent Jan Wieland

SUNDAYS 9 am PT 12 pm ET 4 pm GMT

Click here to view in your timezone.

8-week online course

Access to SMWW network

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Class size limited to 15 students

Mentors

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Your Career as a Basketball Agent Starts Here!

The world of basketball is changing and the demand for talented agents will continue to grow.

With colleges allowing student-athletes to profit off of their names, images, and likenesses starting in 2021, agents will be brought into the circle of trust earlier than ever before.

And with the global game growing exponentially year after year, basketball agents are no longer limited to just the small fraternity of NBA players, the borders are expanding.

This is the time to get prepared and ready for higher demand!

In our 8-week online course, our all-star staff led by Basketball Agents Bret Kanis and Jan Wieland will begin teaching you all the intricacies of becoming a basketball agent.

Take a peek at what your 8-week basketball agent online curriculum will look like:

Week 1: Professional Basketball Opportunities Worldwide
Week 2: FIBA, WNBA, NBA Certifications, Exams, and more!
Week 3: The Art of Recruiting Part 1
Week 4: The Art of Recruiting Part 2
Week 5: Marketing Your Clients to Teams Part 1
Week 6: Marketing Your Clients to Teams Part 2
Week 7: Contracts, Agent Compensation, and the Legal Landscape of Basketball
Week 8: Non-Basketball Related Services, Sponsorship, and Wrap Up

Are you excited yet?!

Unlike most online classes, we focus our program on video chats directly with your course mentors, which allows you the opportunity to build personal relationships and rapport with these successful leaders in basketball agency.

After completing our Basketball Agent course, we will help you redesign your resume to highlight your new skills and include that you have been taught first-hand by our industry experts.

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Learn How to Become a Basketball Agent

Our Basketball Agent course is one of a kind, online interactive program designed for individuals who are passionate about developing a career as a basketball agent.

The course teaches all aspects of becoming an agent including recruiting and scouting players, negotiating contracts, marketing your athlete, endorsements, and league regulations.

Basketball continues to grow globally and domestically, which means opportunities to develop a career as a basketball agent are growing too! The demand for ethical, trustworthy, and responsible agents has never been higher.

Take our online course and learn the right way to operate as a basketball agent! We are currrently looking for representivitves who can work with clients in the USA in addition to Finland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, China, Switzerland, Estonia, U. K., Mexico, Canada, Bosnia, and Lithuania. SMWW, Jan Wieland and Bret Kanis have relationships with teams and players in every popular country around the world.

Subjects covered include:

Scouting and recruiting potential clients
Should you join a large agency or go solo?
Player/agent contracts and compensation
Understanding the CBA
Contract negotiations
Services provided by agents
Leveraging Names, Images, and Likeness opportunities
NBPA regulations
Understanding the different leagues around the world
Dealing with marketing and endorsement deals
Global opportunities
Finding the right opportunity for your player
And much more!

When you complete our online class, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running!

Certificate & Resume Reference:

Successful graduates of the Sports Management Worldwide courses will be sent an SMWW Certificate of Accomplishment. This represents not only your achievements in the course but also demonstrates your personal commitment to self-improvement and the ability to "self-train" yourself for higher positions within the basketball industry.

In addition to your certificate, you will be given the stamp of approval by SMWW.

Resume Redesign Service

Acquiring the skills necessary for your dream sports career is only one part of the employment journey. Even with the required skill set, you still have to market yourself properly to attract the attention of sports industry employers.

At SMWW, we’ll teach you the skills you need to thrive and help you redesign your resume for optimal impact in the sports industry. We’ll help you craft a resume to include your new skills, credentials, and references. We'll also optimize it to reach hiring managers searching online.

We want you to become the next SMWW success story and will go to great lengths to help you get there!

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Meet Your Course Mentors

Bret Kanis

Bret Kanis is an NBA Agent and Attorney with the Hightower Law Firm in Pensacola, Florida with over 20 years’ experience as a basketball agent. As a certified player agent with the National Basketball Players Association and a licensed attorney, he is able to represent professional basketball players in the NBA, G League, and internationally. Over his career, Bret’s clients have received offers in over 25 countries. He has represented players from a wide range of colleges (including high major schools such as Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Notre Dame). He has assisted many under-the-radar players in building successful professional basketball careers. Due to his worldwide connections, he has helped other agents in locating professional basketball opportunities for their clients and mentored agents new to the business.

As an attorney, Bret has represented professional athletes in contract negotiations and contract disputes (including before FIBA’s Basketball Arbitrational Tribunal), advised agents in contract negotiations and disputes for their clients and represented professional athletes with respect to their businesses and personal matters.

Throughout his career, Bret has had the opportunity to work with Hall of Fame athletes, high-round draft picks, and Olympic Gold medalists in various capacities as an agent and attorney.

Jan Wieland

Jan Wieland, Founder and CEO of Blacktop Management Agency, is of both German and Finnish descent. Jan founded Blacktop Management after a series of injuries put his pro basketball career to an end. His broad horizon from playing in different countries helps Jan understand very well the needs and problems both upcoming and established basketball players may face, along with challenges many teams face.

Throughout his years of living and playing basketball both domestically and internationally, Jan has built up connections on every level and placed his players in over 40 different countries around the world. Jan holds a business degree in HR Management and is a FIBA Certified Agent (FIBA License # 201 202 4814) and German Basketball Federation.

Jan speaks English, German, and Finnish fluently. Jan speaks internationally as an expert on global basketball at events such as the Las Vegas Summer League, Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, and NBA D-League Showcase. Besides his work as an agent, Jan has developed and implemented several nationwide anti-racism/discrimination school projects in Finland.

Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, the president and founder of SMWW, has over 40 years of combined experience as an educator, coach, Athletic Director, and registered NFL agent represented over 150 NFL clients. Dr. Lashbrook manages the SMWW Agency representing over 200 Agent Advisors and athletes worldwide in all sports including basketball.

Sports Agent Salaries

What Happens After You Graduate?

In addition to being a provider of sports management education, Sports Management Worldwide offers an international full-service sports agency with an extensive network of Agent Advisors serving athletes throughout the world.

After the successful completion of our Basketball Agent course, graduates are encouraged to seek Agent Advisor status with the SMWW agency.

Agent Advisors are agents-in-training who co-represent all SMWW Agency athletes. For a small yearly fee, an Agent Advisor can recruit and represent athletes on behalf of Sports Management Worldwide and share in any commission fee paid to the company by clients successfully recruited by the Agent Advisor.

The Benefits of Becoming an Agent Advisor are Vast

If you want to become a successful sports agent, the knowledge you gain in our Basketball Agent course is the foundation we build upon as you graduate and become an SMWW Agent Advisor.

As an Agent Advisor you will:

Recruit and represent professional athletes in basketball
Share in referrals from athletes looking for agency representation
Gain access to scouting reports
Highlight your picture and professional bio on SMWWAgency. com
Be able to order agency marketing materials to recruit athletes, including recruiting packets and business cards
Receive one-on-one assistance to recruit your first athlete
Have mentors from certified agents in MLB to help grow your clientele
Associate with respected SMWW faculty and staff
Leverage the established relationships with teams, clubs, and sponsors
Receive discounts on all SMWW Sports Career Conferences that put you in the heart of the action at the NFL Combine, NHL Draft, MLS Draft, MLB Winter Meetings, NBA Summer League Games, and international conferences

As an SMWW Agent Advisor, you will be registered to recruit and represent professional athletes in basketball. We encourage you to keep your current career while you build your clientele.

Athletes from all over the world apply for representation via our website and as an SMWW Agent Advisor, you'll be first in line to make them your clients.

With the guidance of the SMWW team, you are set up for success!

BECOME AN SMWW AGENT ADVISOR

FAQ

Course Details

Weekly Interactive Zoom Video Chats: A unique aspect of each 8-week course is the opportunity for students to participate in weekly, interactive Zoom video chats with fellow students, Dr. Lashbrook, Bret Kanis, Jan Wieland, SMWW mentors, SMWW agents, certified agents in all sports, professional athletes, and renowned guest speakers. This is a tremendous opportunity to network within the professional and collegiate sports industry by getting to know your instructors and fellow students personally via the Internet. This allows ample opportunity to network, ask questions, and discuss aspects of the course openly with instructors and classmates. The interactive Zoom video chats are available via any online computer with a microphone. If you are unable to attend the chats, they are archived and you can listen at a more convenient time. These chats are so popular that graduates continue to come back and participate to enhance their opportunities.

Online Education: This innovative academic course is facilitated through a web-based educational delivery system. You will enjoy the online discussion boards, weekly readings, weekly quizzes, course projects, and interaction amongst fellow sports business-minded students and faculty. The course content is the foundation for a successful career as a sports agent.

Global Participation: SMWW students participate from over 162 countries. Courses have an international influence and instructors will cater assignments to specific countries or leagues. Countries with economic challenges are eligible for economic discounts.

University Credit Available: For additional fees to Fort Hays State University in Kansas, you may receive graduate or undergraduate university credit for Sports Management Worldwide's courses. Click here for more information.

Sports Career Conferences: Throughout the year, Sports Management Worldwide hosts Sports Career Conferences at a variety of sporting events. These are fabulous networking events that put SMWW alumni in the heart of the action. Opportunities to meet head coaches, gm's, player personnel, scouts, and fellow sports agents are facilitated. Visit SMWW Sports Career Conferences to learn more. SMWW alumni receive discounts.

Advanced Certificates: Want to take your career to the next level? Our Advanced Certificates have been hand-selected by our team of sports industry experts to put you on a path to success. These bundles allow you to take advantage of our biggest discount available, by bundling multiple courses and becoming an expert in that field. Learn more about our Advanced Certificates here.

Military Discount: For those individuals who represent their country in military service, (active, reserve, or retired) we offer a discount. Thank you for serving your country! For more information on the Military Discount please click here.

Tax Write Off (For USA Citizens): SMWW course tuition, books, and supplies can be used for education tax credits. Save your receipts and consult with your tax advisor on how this applies to you.

BROWSE SPORTS AGENT COURSES

THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $495

Or a single payment of $1,450

Includes all course textbooks and access to a web-based classroom. Shipping is additional.

PRICE IN

APPROXIMATELY $1450

If we offer an economic discount in your country, it is included in the estimate above. Exact pricing including the discount is shown before you complete checkout. Payment plan options are provided during checkout.

PAYMENT METHODS:

Prerequisites: Must be 18 or older to participate and have a passion for sports.

"When I started working and found out the real salaries of the players, I was very surprised.

" Basketball Agent Guide - The Interception - Blogs

Editor's note: You are reading the user blog "The Interception", which tells about the life of European basketball. Subscribe and stay up to date.

Well-known basketball agent Stanislav Ryzhov (ProTeam Agency) told Intercept about agency work. How much do the gray cardinals of sports get, how do they bring "foreign" players to Russia, where do they get prices for their basketball players, why do they "leak" information to insiders and why it is already impossible to imagine the sports world without agents.

This is perhaps the most complete story about the activities of agents working in Russian basketball. It is best to listen to a conversation with Ryzhov, it is available in three parts on any of the platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Yandex.Music

🎧 Google Podcasts

🎧 Castbox

🎧 Don't forget to Mave9. rate the podcast and write a review - this will greatly help in promotion.

For those who like to read more, "Interception" has collected the main thing from a two-hour conversation.

About the need for agents

I can't imagine a situation where the team directly communicates with the player about the terms of the contract. Previously, about 30 years ago, it was interesting for clubs to bypass agents - what a sin to hide, a basketball player must play basketball and cannot master any legal aspects. Then the teams did not hide, such as why we need this cunning agent, we are now quickly persuading the player to our conditions - that's all. It seems to me that now the market has already become civilized, and even the teams are not interested in the disappearance of agents.

Often the agent helps the club not against the interests of his ward - settles visa issues or can talk to the player. Maybe something worries the basketball player, something makes him worry. He may not be ready to open up to the club and the coach, but he will speak frankly with the agent. It seems to me that the presence of an intermediary is now beneficial to everyone.

About strange options in players' contracts

In Russian basketball about 15 years ago, there were options in the player's contract for the minimum playing time. And if the club does not give him this minimum time, then the club pays extra, the player's salary increases. In simple terms: so that it would not be a shame to sit on the bank. It's wild, but it was 10-12 years ago. You can imagine yourself as a coach. You should not think about the game and not about winning, but about this.

About partnerships with foreign agents

Russia is a relatively rare country that does not defend the interests of local agents. For example, in France, in Israel, in Italy, the presence of a local agent is enshrined in regulations and is mandatory. That is, an American agent cannot make a deal directly, the league simply will not register a contract. These are the right things, we all must defend the interests of our compatriots - players, coaches, agents.

I'll tell you what it looks like. The club has a request for some position, for example, they need the first number with certain dimensions. And you look at the list of partners and try to understand if there is something suitable there. Then you try to understand - perhaps some American agent with whom you have not worked with until now has such a player, and you are trying to get in touch with him. You dial him, introduce yourself, and then he either says that you can work, or answers that he has some other Russian partner. You tell the club that you need to keep contact with someone else. That's it: either you sign the player or you don't.

If I sign, the money will be divided according to personal agreements. By default, this should always be fair, 50/50. But there are nuances. For example, the hardest thing for an American agent is to get a player, to sign himself. And, of course, for this they resort to all means, including illegal ones. Stimulation of parents, coaches, the player himself, promise him conditional goodies. In this case, the American agent just says: "Stas, you know, we have to work 50/50, but in the case of this player, I spent a very large amount on recruiting him, please move over."

About the job search process for the player

Depends on the player. If, for example, this is an American, for whom there may be demand throughout Europe, then the work must be done on all fronts - and, so to speak, spamming, as we call it, and then pinpoint fixing in those places where this player can arouse interest.

Again, our market is small, everyone knows everyone, and I don't send to 100 clubs, but to 8. Because we have 8 of them in Russia. Why be lazy, I will offer them everywhere anyway. But you also have information: some player ruined relations with someone a long time ago, somewhere in this position there is a local star. Then there is simply no point in offering it, you will only lose time or even cause some kind of anger.

It is almost impossible to change your mind about the players - due to the extreme tightness of the market. Players with a dubious reputation - not in terms of drugs and booze, but, for example, with a difficult character - find a job very hard. This is a team sport. The institution of reputation exists, what else. it is extremely difficult to change the opinion of a player. It is possible, you need to look for some steps, but it is very difficult.

About the agency fee

In the vast majority of Europe it is accepted that clubs pay the agency fee. This is 10% of the player's contract. But there are certain cases when the agent pays the player - apparently, it is technically more convenient for these clubs. Why they do this is probably better to ask them, but I can guess that some clubs save themselves from litigation with agents. Let me give you a simple example: a player has an agent and signs up for a club on a long-term contract, but for some reason in the middle of the action he fires the agent. And then it turns out that a new agent comes, and the club not only has to negotiate with the new agent, but also pay him. And the former must also pay. From a legal point of view, this is easily solved, but from a practical point of view, it is easier to “sew” agency fees into salaries.

I get agency once a year. You sign a contract with the club, and the date of payment of agency fees is written there. It is more convenient for some clubs to pay earlier, for others it is more convenient to pay later. Depends on sources of funding and dates of receipt of funds.

About commission delays

Sometimes it happens that I take advantage of these delays, including a position of strength in terms of signing a player. For example, you understand that the club has doubts between players - yours and not yours. But at the same time, he owes money. I don't think it's some great sin on my part to help my player and tell the club: "Listen, you don't pay me, the main thing is to pay the player and take another player."

If a club doesn't want a player at all, you can't force him. This is an alliance doomed to failure. But if the club has doubts between two close players, and you understand that both your player and the player of your competitor will be plus or minus the same in this position, I don’t see anything wrong with pushing a little. I think this is also part of the job.

About "cuts"

What is "cut"? Probably when they see that the club is signing a certain number of players from some agent. And, probably, "saw"! Have you yourself tried to "cut" something from the player? From the transfer - yes, okay, probably, this is possible, when the player himself often does not even know how much he is being bought or sold for. And from the player? Go up to him and "cut" something! Even if you told him in advance that the salary would be 500, and then suddenly it became 600. As soon as you signed the contract, the human essence immediately considers these 600 as his own. Therefore, as soon as the time comes to take this “cut” away, everyone will immediately know about it. It is clear that outside of training and matches, the players have nothing to do, they communicate very actively, go somewhere, go to restaurants, and this will be the first topic for discussion. Yes, and try to pick them up, this money. Everything is legal with the person, the contract is signed.

Where market prices come from

This is one of the tricky aspects of being a European agent. In the US, everything is open, all salaries, any fan in two clicks will see how much any player in any North American league receives. I explain to the American agents that they have a relatively simple job, they know how to set the price and how much to ask the club, not being afraid to sell too cheap or, on the contrary, seem like a grabber. You just need to rely on the salary of a player who is similar in level, in your opinion. The club can already answer something, but these are normal civilized negotiations. Everyone knows how much Petya, Vasya and Seryozha get.

Europe has a completely dark forest. Everything we know is based on insider leaks. Very often, salaries are so false that many clubs find it funny when they say how much their player receives. When I started working, I was very surprised when I found out the real salaries.

The answer to the question is that prices are taken from the ceiling. Experienced agents and those who have a large number of players and close contacts with clubs, of course, still know the real salaries and use this in negotiations. For example, some player receives so much, why are you ready to offer this amount to my client. To this, of course, you always hear that the situation has changed, the economy is going down and the coronavirus in general. But it is still turning into civilized negotiations.

But the exchange of information between countries is not always so transparent. There are so many "drains" in the summer that some player will receive such money. You sit, read, and you, for example, have a player of a similar level. You come to the club and say: "So and so, I want so much." In the club, they twist a finger at the temple or obscenely express themselves in response to you. You go to the player and say: "You know, the offer is like this." And he answers you the same: “Wait, Stas, I read yesterday that this one gets how much. Wow, how they appreciate me, are you a bad agent or the club underestimates me, that's it, I was offended by them. This closeness makes the market wild.

How to become a basketball agent

It is very difficult to become an agent in Russia because of the very small number of teams. A very tight market. Even when we started, it was 2008, there were 13 Russian teams and there were big budgets. Everyone was carrying legionnaires, you could come in. I actually came in from the street. I didn’t have Russian wards at all, somewhere it just played the fact that I knew the language at a normal level, because I worked as an international manager at Spartak. Many in our country do not speak English, at first I was just a link, not even an agent.

As for legal education, I have sued 5-6 times. The law is strictly case-based, and if you have a head in place and you speak the language, then you can read previous processes similar to yours and predict the outcome with a high degree of probability. After one of the cases that we won, the lawyer asked why I needed a lawyer at all, if I myself wrote all the answers correctly.

What does it take to become an agent? License, foreign language and understanding of the sport. Important: Just because you played basketball doesn't mean you understand it. It has been proven by many examples that when you see the sport from the inside and the outside, these are two big differences. A lot of fans and journalists understand basketball much better than the players, simply because of the hours they have watched.

About “leaks” to insiders

The main reason for “leaks” is to increase the price of a player in this way. Dilute one club, "drain" about the interest of another.

Another reason is to show your influence in the market, that you are negotiating with these people, you are negotiating with them.

There is a third reason. Some players are restless comrades, and if they sit without work at the beginning of June, then everything burned down, panic. Someone "feeds" their wards with such "plums". But it also has the opposite effect, because your competitors can do the same. And these anxious players who read twitters and instagrams sit and think: “This one subscribes there, this one here, but why not me?” It's hard to explain that 80% of it is not true, then even the clubs laugh at it, they often don't even know the player's agents.

If you want to know more about the work of agents, then go back to the beginning of the text and choose any podcast platform that is convenient for you. In the issues, Stanislav Ryzhov tells even more and in more detail.

And if you love Russian basketball, subscribe to the Interception Telegram channel — I write about it there every day.

Photo: proteam.pro; personal archive of Stanislav Ryzhov

Igor Krotenkov: "Becoming an agent is not that difficult" - Basketball

Former center Igor Krotenkov spoke about his decision to retrain as a sports agent and the process of obtaining a license.

“Despite the fact that my career is over, basketball is still interesting to me. I didn’t want to become a coach, but like Taras Osipov, I didn’t go into business because I didn’t have enough knowledge in this area. The agency activity is interesting and allows you to continue to live a basketball life, to take part in it. I think that my competence is enough.

In principle, becoming an agent is not that difficult. The main thing is to have a higher education and not have a criminal record. Then you need to pass an exam consisting of 20 questions. It is enough to answer 16 correctly. The questions are compiled according to the documents issued by the Basketball Federation. Player status, agent status, regulations. In general, I studied the documents and forward, reports Krotenkov's words to Life Sports.

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