WME has signed reigning NBA Finals MVP
Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors for representation in all areas off the court. Iguodala will be represented by a team of agents at the Hollywood agency, led by television agent
Jim Ornstein, a WME partner.
The Warriors shooting guard and small forward will continue to be represented on the court by NBA agent Rob Pelinka and will continue to be managed by Rudy Thomas.
Iguodala was not previously represented by a separate agency for non-playing work. In a statement to SportsBusiness Journal, he indicated that friendships with people at the agency, including co-CEO Patrick Whitesell, was a reason why he signed with WME.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to develop a great relationship with Patrick Whitesell and Jim Ornstein,” Iguodala said. “It’s apparent that WME has all the resources to help me pursue all of my off-court interests.”
Those interests include fashion and technology. Iguodala lives in Silicon Valley and has invested in tech companies in the past, including Twice, an online clothing reseller that was acquired by eBay. Iguodala was a guest speaker at TechCrunch’s annual conference, Disrupt, last year.
WME will work to find opportunities for Iguodala in the areas of entertainment, media, sports, marketing, fashion and digital. Iguodala’s current endorsements are Nike, Stance, Teespring and Skullcandy.
> DLE SIGNS LEDECKY’S COACH: The DLE Agency has signed Bruce Gemmell, swim coach of Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder Katie Ledecky, for representation in media, marketing and brand development ahead of this year’s Rio Olympics.
At DLE, Gemmell, who has won the American Swimming Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award the last three years, will be represented by Doug Eldridge. He was previously without representation.
Gemmell is head coach of Nation’s Capital Swim Club in Washington, D.C., and has helped develop several national, international and Olympic champions, including Ledecky, who won Olympic gold as a 15-year-old at the 2012 London Olympics. Ledecky is expected to be a big story at the Rio Games, but she does not have an agent so that she can compete for Stanford after Rio.
“Bruce never worked with an agent prior to signing with the DLE Agency this month,” Eldridge said. “It certainly wasn’t for lack of interest, options or commercial appeal, but rather his own sense of humility.”
Gemmell does not have any endorsements now. Eldridge said he will focus on finding product and service endorsements, as well as speaking engagements for corporations and organizations for his new client.
Eldridge, an attorney, founded DLE in 2007 in Washington, D.C., as an agency focused on representing Olympic athletes and personalities. The firm currently represents about two dozen athlete clients, including Olympians, endurance athletes and NFL players.
> SHEPARD SWITCHES AGENTS: Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard, a prospect for this year’s NFL draft, has changed agencies, leaving SportsTrust Advisors for Athletes First.
He will be represented by Justin Schulman at Athletes First, which represents several high profile draftable players, including Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey, a projected first-round pick.
Athletes First also represents Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman, Duke safety Jeremy Cash, Utah State outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, Notre Dame defensive tackle Sheldon Day, Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander, USC quarterback Cody Kessler, Michigan State center Jack Allen, Minnesota cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, Texas A&M center Mike Matthews, Wisconsin outside linebacker Joe Schobert, UMass wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams and Arkansas offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola.
Athletes First agents Schulman, David Mulugheta, Andrew Kessler, Carmen Wallace, Brian Murphy, Joe Panos and Blaine Roche will represent the players.
> BAKARI SIGNS NFL PROSPECTS: NFL agent and attorney Adisa Bakari, who chairs the sports and entertainment group at law firm Kelley Drye & Warren, has signed several prospects for the draft, including University of Maryland linebacker Yannick Ngakoue and Minnesota cornerback Eric Murray.
Bakari also signed Temple cornerback Tavon Young, Indiana running back Jordan Howard, Ball State wide receiver Jordan Williams, Mississippi State cornerback Taveze Calhoun, San Diego State offensive lineman Darrell Greene, Louisville linebacker James Burgess, Baylor wide receiver Jay Lee, Florida State defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample and Norfolk State linebacker Deon King.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
