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.

What do I offer potential sponsors?

As you begin looking into sponsorship deals, it can be helpful to make a list of what you offer to potential sponsors. What you are looking for is a “competitive advantage” – in other words, what are the skills that you have on-the-court and the qualities that you have off-the-court that can distinguish you from other athletes playing at your level and in your market?

Your on-court reputation for performance

  • Basketball skills: Are you known for a high shooting percentage, a high number of assists or perhaps intense defensive skills?
  • Exposure in terms of basketball: Are you well-known in a particular country or regional market? Does your team have international exposure?
  • Your visibility as an athlete: This can influence which sponsors may be interested in working with you because their sales goals usually have target markets in mind.
  • Overall behaviour on the court: Are you known for your team spirit and good relationship with teammates, opponents, referees, the media, etc.?
Your off-court reputation
  • Personal qualities and attributes: Any qualities that could set you apart from other potential endorsers. For example, do you speak several languages? Are you a good public speaker?
  • Philanthropy and social actions: Being engaged with social actions increases the sponsor’s potential to be associated with that action as well.
  • Social media presence and followers: Your social media reach is also an important aspect nowadays. Are you using your social media properly?
  • Overall behaviour off the court: Sponsors generally like to be linked to athletes that are good examples for society off the court.