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If you’re passionate about basketball and have great communication and sales skills then you might like to become a basketball agent. Working as a basketball agent, you will be representing the interests of professional basketball players, completing a wide range of duties that will help them to be successful at their chosen sport.
When you become a basketball agent, you’ll have a wide range of duties to take care of.
Firstly, you’ll need to attract good players to your services, and constantly be on the lookout for up and coming talent.
You’ll also need to make sure you clients get the best deals with the best teams.
Sponsorship is also important, and you’ll need to secure good contracts.
You will also need to look after public relations for your client, and their legal affairs.
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Education Requirements to Become a Basketball Agent
If you would like to become a basketball agent, your first step is to learn a lot about basketball.
Knowing a history of the sport, as well as being up to date on current leagues, coaches, teams and players is important.
You’ll also need to understand how sports management works, as well as team contracts, and sponsorships.
There is no educational requirement to become a basketball agent.
Some people enter this job after gaining sales and marketing experience elsewhere.
Most have a four year college degree in a field such as business, sales, marketing, or public relations.
Others might even have a law degree.
While having a college education will help you gain skills and get a job to begin with, what earns you money is your ability.
Strong negotiation and communication skills are what will help you to make it as a basketball agent.
You will need to be registered and pay an annual fee to work as a basketball agent.
This applies in all states.
Basketball Agent Job Description
The role of a basketball agent is to represent a professional athlete and best look after their interests.
They do this in many ways.
A basketball agent will negotiate a contact with a deal for a player, and also a sponsorship deal.
They will make sure they have access to the best training opportunities.
Looking after the legal affairs of their clients is also part of their role, as is scouting for promotional opportunities and other public relations based tasks.
A good basketball agent should allow a client to put all of their focus on their game, rather than other business related matters.
A basketball agent’s responsibilities could include:
- Public relations
- Giving a client legal advice
- Negotiating on behalf of a client with teams or sponsors
- Communicating with coaches, and other professionals
- Organizing training
Basketball Agent Salary and Career Path
When you become a basketball agent, you will probably start your career working in a large agency.
You may begin as an assistant.
With time you will have the opportunity to recruit and manage clients, then move on to looking after high profile clients.
Many basketball agents go on to start their own agency.
Expect it to take a while to become successful as a basketball agent.
You’ll need to win the respect of your colleagues, as well as the athletes of the game, and others like coaches and sponsors.
Building a strong reputation may take time.
The more experience you have, the greater your reputation, and the more clients you will have.
It’s also important to know that most basketball agents work on a commission basis, meaning that they don’t actually earn a salary.
Instead, they earn a percentage of their client’s income.
So, the better you are at your job, the more you can earn.
The median salary for a sports agent is $94,000 a year.
Some similar roles to that of a basketball agent include:
- Baseball Agent
- Sports Agent
- Sports Coach
- Sports Commentator
- Sports Medicine Technician
- Sports Recruiter
To become a basketball agent you’ll need a passion for the game, great salesmanship, and a killer work ethic.
Getting established in the beginning will no doubt be hard work, but if you are willing to put in the hard work, the rewards will come.
A lucrative salary is available, as well as the chance to be a part of the game you love.
