Priority Sports and Entertainment
Priority Sports & Entertainment is a full-service sports management firm, representing NFL and NBA athletes and coaches, based in Chicago, Illinois and Sherman Oaks, California. Priority Sports is one of the largest independently owned sports agencies in the US. It was founded in 1985 by Mark Bartelstein, a former investment banker at Morgan Stanley. In 2013, Priority Sports & Entertainment was named on "Forbes" list of the 10 World's Most Valuable Sports Agencies and the 8 Most Valuable NFL Agencies. In 2014, Priority was recognized as #7 among the World's Most Valuable Sports Agencies by  Forbes, with $560 million in contract value under management. In 2015, "Forbes" ranked Priority #20 on the list, with $947.52 million in contract value under management and $33.2 million in commissions. Priority Sports & Entertainment, fueled by its heavily sought-after client Gordon Hayward, was the big winner in 2017's NBA free agency, leading all agencies in the total dollars negotiated so far. Priority led the pack with $354.6 million negotiated for nine players. Priority Sports finished #2 among all agencies in the 2017 NFL "free agency" signing period, negotiating over $243 million in contracts  (QB Kirk Cousins, WR Mike Evans, C Ryan Jensen, OG Zach Fulton, QB Josh McCown, OT Jack Mewhort, QB Jake Rudock, TE Josiah Price, FB Zach Line, LB Mike Mauti, and QB Drew Stanton), and finished #1 among all agencies worldwide for the highest percentage guarantees in their contracts. Since founding Priority Sports, Bartelstein has been rated as one of the most influential sports agents by Street & Smith's "Sports Business Journal". He first gained acclaim after negotiating the contract for NBA star John "Hot Rod" Williams, because it made him the highest paid player in the history of team  sports at the time. Basketball division. Player agents. The company has represented more than 24 first round NBA Draft picks. In the 2010 NBA Draft, Priority Sports represented four athletes who were drafted in the first round, more than any other agency. In the 2015 NBA Draft, Priority Sports represented four first round picks. "Priority has represented 20 players, or 9.5 percent, of the first-round selections in the NBA draft over the past seven years. This year Priority represented No. 18 pick Sam Dekker, No. 22 pick Bobby Portis, No. 27 pick Larry Nance Jr. and No. 28 R.J.  Hunter. Bartelstein and Priority agents Reggie Brown, Joel Cornette, Zach Kurtin, Kieran Piller and Andy Shiffman represent the players." Athletes. Priority Sports represents the following NBA athletes: Other NBA athletes represented by Priority Sports include Kyle Lowry, Joe Ingles, Jabari Parker, Enes Kanter, DeMarre Carroll], [Jared Dudley, Damion James, Brad Miller, Brian Grant, Bobby Simmons, Will Bynum, Mark Blount, Brian Cardinal, Michael Dickerson, Trenton Hassell, James Posey, Jannero Pargo, and Darius Songaila. Football division. Contract advisors. Priority Sports has worked with NFL athletes for over twenty years. In addition to Bartelstein, partner Rick Smith (President of Coaches, Front Office & Broadcasters ), partner Mike McCartney, Kyle Dolan (Director of Football Operations), Dominique Price and partner Kenny Zuckerman (President/Athlete Representation) are agents at the company. Athletes. Priority Sports represents the following NFL athletes: Other NFL athletes represented by Priority Sports include Arian Foster, Brooks Reed, Nate Kaeding, Koa Misi, Mike Pollak, Alterraun Verner, Sean Lee, and Levi Jones, Kyle Kosier, Dominic Raiola, Isaac Sopoaga, Madieu Williams, Kris Dielman, Tony Pashos, Alan Faneca, and Luis Castillo.