Last week’s news that top NBA prospects
Jared Sullinger and
Austin Rivers had signed with veteran agent
David Falk had some people in the business asking whether the deals were the start of a comeback for Falk.
“I never stopped,” said Falk, who in his heyday in the 1990s represented dozens of NBA players and many of the league’s stars, including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson.
Falk did ultimately step back for a time. He sold his agency,
FAME, to the former
SFX Sports in 1998 for what was reported to be about $120 million. (Falk says it ended up being closer to $200 million, taking into consideration the value of the stock he received as part of the deal.) He restarted FAME in 2006, after SFX Sports dissolved, but Falk said he did stop recruiting rookies for a time — until 2007. That’s when he signed
Jeff Green, now with Boston and the No. 5 overall pick of the 2007 draft.
Falk continued from there. He represents 10 players, including Philadelphia’s Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick of the 2010 draft, and Miami forward Juwan Howard, whom Falk has represented since Howard was drafted No. 5 overall in 1994.
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Duke’s Rivers and Ohio State’s Sullinger, both projected first-rounders, signed with David Falk.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES (2)
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“We are looking for quality. We are not looking to have the most guys; I have already done that,” Falk said.
In the case of his newest clients, Sullinger’s and Rivers’ parents and coaches invited Falk for an agent interview, “which is the way it should be,” Falk said. Sullinger, a center from Ohio State, was ranked No. 6 overall on the mock draft of DraftExpress.com last week. Rivers, a guard from Duke and son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, was ranked No. 16.
NBA PROSPECTS PICK LANDMARK, WASSERMAN: The Landmark Sports Agency signed Connecticut center Andre Drummond for representation in this year’s NBA draft. Landmark President Rob Pelinka will represent Drummond. DraftExpress.com ranked Drummond No. 2 overall on its mock draft last week. … Wasserman Media Group signed Washington guard Tony Wroten, Cincinnati power forward Yancy Gates and Syracuse center Fab Melo for representation in the NBA draft. Greg Lawrence will represent Wroten, and Lee Melchionni will represent Gates, while B.J. Armstrong will represent Melo.
TAR HEELS SIGN: North Carolina center Tyler Zeller signed with agent Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management. DraftExpress.com ranked Zeller No. 10 overall last week. … Power forward John Henson, also of UNC, signed with Williams & Connolly attorney and agent Jim Tanner. DraftExpress.com ranked Henson No. 8 last week.
LAGARDÈRE SIGNS NFL PLAYERS, PROSPECT: Lagardère Unlimited signed Denver running back Willis McGahee and Oakland fullback Marcel Reece, along with draft prospect Orson Charles, a tight end from Georgia. Lagardère Football President Joel Segal and agents Chafie Fields and Greg Barnett will represent the players. McGahee was represented by Rosenhaus Sports. Reece was represented by Premier Sports & Entertainment. Charles was represented by Impact Sports.
NFL PLAYER SIGNINGS FOR IMPACT SPORTS, BTI: Impact Sports signed Jacksonville defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and free agent safety Abram Elam. … Agents Brad Leshnock and Joe Flanagan of BTI Sports Advisors signed Kansas City offensive tackle Branden Albert.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
