Who is here to help advance my career?
Key Learnings
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Take the decision to work with an agent very seriously because you are deciding to let someone act on your behalf.
Ensure your agent has certification from FIBA to work within International basketball as an agent.
Use different representatives (agent, financial advisor, and lawyer) for different parts of your personal and professional affairs.
Remember that the reputation you build at the early stages of your career will impact how marketable you are when you are playing at higher levels.
Build good relationships with your sponsors to increase the chances of renewing your contract.
A Player's mentor looks after the player’s best interests and personal development only.
A Players’ Mentor will help you develop your career and help you planning and identifying transitions.
Family plays a paramount role in the development of a player; however, they do not understand the specificities of the game, and, most of the time, they will not understand what is happening in your head.
Parents are primarily responsible for the overall evolution of the athlete as a person.

Player-Family relationship

Family plays a paramount role in the development of a player. Your family is your first and best supporter. Your parents will be there for you, always. There is no doubt that they want the best for you. They will be the ones that will celebrate with you during your best moments and support you during the bad ones. Building a strong relationship player-family is critical: it will be built around motivation, propulsion, and encouragement, as well as physical, emotional, and financial support.

However, your family members are not professional basketball players (except for counted exceptions). They do not understand the specificities of the game, and, most of the time, they will not understand what is happening in your head. The following sections will help your family (especially your parents) understand their role and learn how to support you.