I AM Sports & Entertainment has signed Univ. of Washington G Markelle Fultz, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, for representation on- and off-the-court. NBA agent Raymond Brothers, founder of I AM Sports & Entertainment, is representing Fultz. Brothers told THE DAILY yesterday that he signed Fultz about two weeks ago. Most top NBA prospects signed with agents a few months ago. "He met with everybody," Brothers said. "He met with every single firm you can imagine." The reason for the late signing, Brothers said, is that his family "wanted to do a thorough interview process." Brothers founded Beverly Hills-based I AM Sports & Entertainment in '01. Brothers represented Thunder G Victor Oladipo, who was the No. 2 pick of the '13 NBA Draft and former NBAer Ben Gordon, the No. 3 pick of the '04 NBA draft, but has not represented a No. 1 pick before (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer).
FRESH KICKS: Fultz also recently signed an endorsement deal with Nike, and in DC, Boren & Babb note the fact that he "ended up" with the company "isn't surprising." In late May, Fultz was "already wearing Nike shoes, socks and shorts" at a draft workout. On the night of the draft lottery, a Nike rep called Fultz' trainer Keith Williams in part to "ask about Fultz’s impressions of a sneaker design the representative referred to as the 'F2G Soldier' -- a play off Fultz’s motto 'Faith to the Grind.'" Fultz signing with Nike was a "big loss" for Baltimore-based Under Armour. Fultz is a DC-area product whose AAU team, the DC Blue Devils, "was affiliated" with UA. If UA "wanted a big-time local prospect, there were some sensible factors when it came to Fultz, and they missed out on him" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/20).
