Black men doing work.
There was a time (and probably still happens) where athletes were told that having a black agent would be a detriment to their careers, but no anymore because so many brothers and sisters are balling in the game.
Football agent David Mulugheta made the biggest jump on this year’s list, catapulting 30 spots to No. 8 with more than $1.5 billion in negotiated deals and $46.6 million in commissions. That makes him the NFL’s top representative as well as the highest-ranking Black agent on the list. The 38-year-old, who is the son of U.S. immigrants from Eritrea, entered the business in 2008 as an intern at Athletes First and became a full equity partner in 2019. In just the last two years, Mulugheta has negotiated several of the NFL’s biggest contracts, including quarterback Deshaun Watson’s $156 million deal with the Texans, wide receiver Michael Thomas’ $96 million deal with the Saints and cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s $105 million deal with the Rams.
Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group continued an ascent that began with his first appearance on the ranking in 2016 with a jump from No. 19 last year to No. 9, his first time in the top ten. Paul negotiated $1.27 billion in contracts worth $46 million in commissions, including deals for LeBron James ($153 million), Ben Simmons ($177 million) and John Wall ($171 million). He’s now the second most powerful basketball agent in the world behind Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management (No. 3), and played a pivotal role in helping build the NBA champion Lakers roster through his representation of James, as well as Antony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters.
Salute to both these brothers.
Just a matter of time before they are #1 and #2.