Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady Announce Plans To Start Agency

[RealGM Wiretap]

Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal are opening a player representation agency this fall called Seven1 Sports Group and Entertainment.

McGrady and O'Neal, who are both 41 and live in Texas, believe they can offer young players wisdom from their experience in the NBA.

“We think it’s needed, and we have a passion for it,” McGrady said. “We’re around kids every single day because we have youth programs. It just makes sense. We see the lack of information that these kids are getting, so we would be doing a disservice to our people if we don’t lend our expertise of what we know and help guide them. This is a calling that we have.”

O’Neal intends to take the National Basketball Players Association test in January to become a registered NBA agent and hold partner status alongside McGrady. McGrady will likely step away from his broadcasting role with ESPN.

“Make no mistake,” O’Neal said, “this is very personal.”

O'Neal has built relationships with several top draft prospects at his Drive Nation sports complex in Irving, Texas. R.J. Hampton, Tyrese Maxey and Jahmi’us Ramsey came through Drive Nation, as did Cade Cunningham.

“There’s no magic wand for this,” O’Neal said. “We’re not trying to say we’re the magic wand. But we’re going to be different. You can’t name another pair of people who have had the level of success and the ups and downs that we’ve had in our careers.”

Via Marc Stein/New York Times

[ishoy123]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

[jlokine]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

[Cassius]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

He's half right. The NCAA passed "The Rich Paul" rule to stop non-graduates from representing draft candidates, but that obviously goes away once the player is drafted. All they'll need to do is hire a few university-educated agents to be student-facing while their clients are amateurs.

[TheSeeker]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

He's half right. The NCAA passed "The Rich Paul" rule to stop non-graduates from representing draft candidates, but that obviously goes away once the player is drafted. All they'll need to do is hire a few university-educated agents to be student-facing while their clients are amateurs.

Funny, you're half-right too. The NCAA reversed the "Rich Paul" rule, so the degree requirement no longer exists.

Although if I was a talented prospect, and I wanted a former player agent, I'd still want a highly educated former player agent. I'd ask to see a history of their K negotiations from when they played and financial decisions before I put them in a position to make decisions for me and pay them 4-20% of my player and endorsement income.

[Deadpool Raptor]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

I think you've watched too many movies and TV shows... being a good agent is about experience and attention to detail. Signing clients is about networking and being a strong communicator. Once you sign a client you will get wheeled by other agents day after day with your "strong communications".

[jlokine]

I thought there were rules that you had to have a university degree to be an agent.

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

I think you've watched too many movies and TV shows... being a good agent is about experience and attention to detail. Signing clients is about networking and being a strong communicator. Once you sign a client you will get wheeled by other agents day after day with your "strong communications".

what does that have anything to do with how much movies and TV show i watch? These qualities you listed are not things you can learn in a classroom either which is pretty much my point.

[Cassius]

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

He's half right. The NCAA passed "The Rich Paul" rule to stop non-graduates from representing draft candidates, but that obviously goes away once the player is drafted. All they'll need to do is hire a few university-educated agents to be student-facing while their clients are amateurs.

Funny, you're half-right too. The NCAA reversed the "Rich Paul" rule, so the degree requirement no longer exists.

Although if I was a talented prospect, and I wanted a former player agent, I'd still want a highly educated former player agent. I'd ask to see a history of their K negotiations from when they played and financial decisions before I put them in a position to make decisions for me and pay them 4-20% of my player and endorsement income.

I'm 100% right, 50% of the time.

[ishoy123]

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

I think you've watched too many movies and TV shows... being a good agent is about experience and attention to detail. Signing clients is about networking and being a strong communicator. Once you sign a client you will get wheeled by other agents day after day with your "strong communications".

what does that have anything to do with how much movies and TV show i watch? These qualities you listed are not things you can learn in a classroom either which is pretty much my point.

I don't disagree that they can be good agents. I was merely indicating that I thought there was a rule preventing them from being agents.

[Deadpool Raptor]

i dont think so, it's one of those preferred things.. being an agent is all about networking and being a strong communicator anyway. neither of which are skillsets you can learn from a textbook or in a classroom.

I think you've watched too many movies and TV shows... being a good agent is about experience and attention to detail. Signing clients is about networking and being a strong communicator. Once you sign a client you will get wheeled by other agents day after day with your "strong communications".

what does that have anything to do with how much movies and TV show i watch? These qualities you listed are not things you can learn in a classroom either which is pretty much my point.

They are absolutely things you learn in a classroom. Do you think lawyers were born with attention to detail? Do you understand that experience must be built on a foundation of knowledge?

I am guessing your position that it's all about networking and being a good communicator is based on viewing movies and TV shows that position agents as fast talking hustlers. Unfortunately, many players are young and don't understand the work that is involved in acting as a representative; they think like you did in your comment.