WME Sports has officially initiated the divestiture of its basketball representation division as part of a broader strategic restructuring following the recent privatization of its parent company, Endeavor Group Holdings, by private equity firm Silver Lake. The move aims to resolve potential conflicts of interest emerging from the transaction, particularly within the highly regulated landscape of professional sports ownership and representation.
The newly independent entity, which will retain the WME Basketball name, is set to operate autonomously from WME Sports. It will be helmed by veteran basketball agent Bill Duffy, who originally joined WME through the acquisition of his agency, BDA Sports, in 2023.
Continuity in Leadership and Client Roster
Despite the organizational shift, the basketball unit’s core leadership and client base will remain intact. Duffy will lead the new agency alongside key executives including Karen Brodkin (formerly WME Sports Co-Head and EVP), who will now oversee strategy and operations, Carlos Fleming (Head of Basketball Marketing), and Bret Just (Head of Coaches and Executives).
The agency will continue to represent a marquee roster of talent, featuring NBA stars such as Luka Dončić and Anthony Edwards, as well as WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu, in addition to coaches and front office personnel.
Notably, Ari Emanuel, Executive Chairman of WME Group, and Mark Shapiro, President and Managing Partner, will participate in the new venture as private investors, joining Duffy in a personal capacity. This ensures continuity of vision and capital support while adhering to league compliance requirements.
Addressing Conflict of Interest with NBA Stakeholders
This divestiture is part of a broader compliance-focused restructuring following the Silver Lake-led take-private of Endeavor. A significant point of regulatory concern stemmed from Michael Dell’s DFO Management, which took a stake in the newly private WME Group. Dell, who owns a 10% share in the San Antonio Spurs, is subject to NBA rules that restrict ownership entities from participating in player representation activities, thus necessitating WME’s exit from direct basketball player management.
Baseball Division Under Review
In parallel, WME Sports is also nearing a resolution concerning its baseball representation division, due to a similar issue involving Silver Lake’s ownership of Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH)—a conglomerate of minor league teams previously owned by Endeavor. Discussions with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) are ongoing, and while no definitive outcome has been finalized, sources suggest an announcement may be imminent.
Earlier this year, WME also exited its football representation business, transferring operations to Patrick Whitesell, the company’s former Executive Chairman. This move was made to resolve a conflict tied to Silver Lake CEO Egon Durban’s minority ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Remaining Focused on Diversified Sports Representation
Despite these adjustments, WME Sports remains committed to its broader representation portfolio, which includes talent across tennis, golf, action sports, and sports broadcasting, along with its sports consulting and property advisory services.
“Sports remain a core focus for WME,” said Shapiro. “We are deeply committed to our world-class clients across tennis, golf, action sports, sports content, broadcasting, and property solutions, and we will remain opportunistic in the space.”
Strategic Takeaways
- WME Basketball is now an independently operated agency under Bill Duffy.
- Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro are privately backing the new entity.
- WME is actively resolving conflict-of-interest issues in baseball representation.
- The company retains a strong foothold in tennis, golf, and other individual sports.
This transition represents a significant shift in the agency landscape, as WME recalibrates its sports division in alignment with regulatory standards and investor relationships, while preserving its influence in other high-growth verticals within the sports ecosystem.
