The Game Beyond the Court: How to Become a Basketball Agent

The Game Beyond the Court: How to Become a Basketball Agent

Basketball is one of the most recognised sports in the world, and across Africa, its business side has been expanding rapidly, particularly over the past decade. With this growth comes increased pressure on African players to perform on the court and ensure their professional contracts are well-structured and legally sound. As a result, the role of a competent basketball agent has become more crucial than ever. But what does it take to become one?

This article is the first in a series exploring the evolving landscape of basketball representation in Africa. In this instalment, we’ll break down the steps to becoming a basketball agent—from understanding FIBA regulations to building a strong network within the industry. In the coming weeks, we will delve deeper into the challenges that African agents face, including trust barriers within the basketball community and the reluctance of some clubs to engage with player agents. By the end of this series, you’ll have a clearer picture of how to become a basketball agent and the unique realities of player representation across Africa.

First, we need to define what an agent is. At times, people confuse an agent with a scout. While the two professions maintain different roles, they usually get confused because some of their responsibilities sometimes overlap.

An agent, whether an individual or part of an agency, represents a player's interests, unlike a scout who works for a team or organization. However, both assess talent. Agents act as mentors and evaluators, identifying players' strengths to determine their best competitive level. Once they see potential, they express interest in representation and, after deliberation, reach an agreement with the player to guide their career on and off the court.

Agents play a crucial role in a player's career, helping them secure team placements, negotiate better contracts, handle arbitration matters, and, depending on their on-court success, secure off-court opportunities such as endorsement deals and sponsorships. To become a FIBA-certified agent, candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, and not be employed by a FIBA member federation, club, or league. This ensures players are protected from conflicts of interest and potential exploitation.

To become a FIBA agent, applicants must apply directly through the FIBA website or their national basketball federation. They must then pay an application fee, which typically covers the exam and certification costs. The exam, usually conducted in English, tests knowledge of FIBA regulations, basketball rules, and contract negotiation.
Upon passing, they receive a FIBA Agent License, allowing them to represent players and coaches. This license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Agents must also adhere to FIBA's ethical and professional standards or risk having their license revoked.

An agent can charge a maximum of 10% only for FIBA on the total value of the player's contract. However, there is not a fixed amount for the commission on endorsement deals, but that usually comes anywhere between 10-30 %. FIBA has recently made changes that allow a player to work with multiple agents simultaneously, thus enabling player-agent contracts to be terminated with a 30-day notice. [Source]

A player can also bring in a manager as they become more successful on-court, requiring them to build a "team" of their own to maintain their endorsements and a public relations team for their image. Agents are still responsible for taking clubs or federations to FIBA for arbitration for breaching signed contracts. Still, they can only do so if they are registered under FIBA and have an active license. A player-agent contract has to be renewed biannually, as it cannot exceed two years. Still, an agent is entitled to whatever deals are signed during that time, even if the agreement outlives the player-agent contract.

Among these changes by FIBA, as of 1st February 2025, they have also decided that players will pay agents, not the club. This is to remain committed to their high standards of integrity and transparency. This change is in full effect, and non-compliance will lead to disciplinary measures against the team and agent.

Despite this, some agents have found it very difficult to penetrate particular markets because larger agencies often offer bigger deals to athletes based on their potential value. There is also a barrier to entry for African agents as a trust element still exists in the African basketball community, as European-based Angolan agent Pedro Dos Anjos stated exclusively to AfricaBasket.

"There is a massive barrier to entry for black agents because there is little trust amongst Africans."

A significant challenge, particularly in some African countries, is that some clubs prefer to engage with players who do not have agents. This often leads to contract breaches, leaving players without proper representation.

Additionally, some individuals pose as registered agents, making it crucial for players to conduct due diligence. Before entering any agreement, players should verify that their agent is officially registered with FIBA. Failing to do so can create serious complications in the event of a dispute.

The Basketball Africa League has brought a lot of attention to African talent, and they continue to be sought after. Still, without the proper representation, they are often left vulnerable in the wake of a dispute or even in ensuring they have good contracts and build for their futures after their playing careers. As a result, the role of an agent is ever more critical. Could we begin to see more African agents representing top African talents? Could we see African agencies match the likes of Klutch Sports and RocNation in Africa?

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]