The Brooklyn Nets are losing one of their biggest names as they prepare for the playoffs. Jay-Z owned just a little piece of the team, but was a large presence
when the franchise changed homes and identities this season.
The
rap mogul is selling his stake in the Nets so he can become certified
as a player agent, possibly before the end of the season. The process is
underway, with paperwork already filed, a person with knowledge of the
details said Wednesday.
NBA rules prevent anyone from being involved in ownership and player representation.
Yahoo Sports, which first reported Jay-Z's plans, said his Roc Nation
company has partnered with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and hopes to
compete for players in this June's NBA draft.
Jay-Z owns less
than 1 percent of the Nets, but has had a major impact with the
franchise's move to his hometown. He had input and in some cases
complete control of everything from the interior of the $1 billion
Barclays Center to the design of the team's black-and-white uniforms,
which he debuted himself during his run of eight sold-out concerts in
September that served as the debut of the arena.
A spokesman for Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, did not respond to a message.
Friendly with LeBron James and a number of sports superstars, Jay-Z
could quickly make Roc Nation a force in the agency field. The company
recently signed New York Yankees All-Star Robinson Cano. The Nets hoped
his reputation and friendships would help them three years ago when
James led a loaded field of free agents, but the Nets, then playing in
Newark, failed to land any of them.
Jay-Z attended only a
handful of games this season, but his affiliation with the franchise
provided a necessary buzz for its first season in Brooklyn. He sat in
his courtside seat next to wife Beyonce in November when the Nets beat
the Knicks in their first matchup as New York rivals, providing the
trash talk afterward when he tweeted that the city was under new
management.
The Nets have clinched their first playoff berth
since 2007 and are in position to have home-court advantage in their
first-round series.
(NBA 2013)
Whats your opinion on the Bulls?!?! Interesting stuff! you keep interesting tabs on teams, cool stuff!
ReplyDeleteits funny how we have the same kind post of the NBA Bracket! i think its gonna be Clippers vs Heat, or OKC vs Heat for the NBA championship!
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