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Some Future Day evaluates technology at the intersection of culture & law.
Join Marc Beckman and his esteemed guests for insider knowledge surrounding how you can use new technologies to positively impact your life, career, and family. Marc Beckman is Senior Fellow of Emerging Technologies and an Adjunct Professor at NYU, CEO of DMA United, and a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets.
Marc Beckman: [00:01:00] [00:02:00] Jason Glushon, it is such an honor to welcome you to Some Future Day. How are you today?
Jason Glushon: I am wonderful, Beckman. How are you on your coast?
Marc Beckman: Good, good. It's good to be in New York City. for those, that are not aware, Jason Glushon is not only in Los Angeles, but a Los Angeles fixture, correct? Like you, you were born in, in LA, correct?
Jason Glushon: A native for sure. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Went back east for college and came right back, so I'm a native through and through.
Marc Beckman: Your college years, I believe you spent at Emory.
Jason Glushon: That's correct. I was lucky enough to play baseball down there for four years and went to the business school and was good to get out of the LA bubble for four years for sure.
Marc Beckman: So you finished Emory, you were playing ball at Emory, but before you went to law school, were you in the minor leagues pitching then, or did the minor leagues come after law school? I think it was before law school, correct?
Jason Glushon: So back then, which was, [00:03:00] wow, 17 years ago, crazy as it is, the baseball draft used to be 50 rounds. I think now it might be 40. I'm actually not sure. But back when it was 50, after I graduated from Emory, there were 50 rounds. So 1,500 players were taken. I was not one of them. I was lucky enough to get a free end drafted free agent contract from the Oakland A's that I signed with, June of, 2007.
And then I was lucky enough to play for Oakland for three years in the minor leagues.
Marc Beckman: But, Glu, that's a pretty big run. I mean, you were pitching for the Oakland A's for three years. What was that like? That must have been just a dream come true, right?
Jason Glushon: For me, it was the best because obviously I always dreamed about that from a young age, even back in Little League. You know, in minor leagues, you're not making that much money. I was still living at home in the off seasons, but for loving sports and knowing that I wanted to work in one way or another in sports, I was able to keep the dream alive and trying to make the big leagues and make a living that way.
But also getting a first hand [00:04:00] valuable experience of you know, playing in the minor leagues and living that lifestyle and making connections and seeing professional athletes, professional coaches on a day-to-day basis. So in the moment and afterwards, it was extremely valuable.
Marc Beckman: Glu, minor league baseball, to me is really interesting. I don't know if you're aware of this, but the first athlete that I represented was Cal Ripken, Jr. And that's when I was exposed to his minor league team, the Aberdeen IronBirds. Did you actually play against them at all?
Jason Glushon: That was on the East Coast. We did not, I played in a number of leagues, the California League, the Texas League, the Arizona League, and the Midwest League. I did not make it to the East Coast, unfortunately.
Marc Beckman: So back then, like the minor league baseball philosophy was less about from, I think, from like an executive level, it was less about winning and more about making sure the people, the families in the seats had fun. It was okay if they missed an inning or two or three to eat the great crabs that we're serving in [00:05:00] Aberdeen, Maryland.
It was fantastic if the crazy show in between innings on the field had all of the children laughing. Was that what it was like when you were playing with the A's?
Jason Glushon: I think it's a combination, like you said, the family environment, so the fan experience, is to make sure that they, it's affordable, they can enjoy, and it's a good game, it's a good show, it's a good whole ball of wax, if you will. On the baseball side, and more so with Cal Ripken, Jr., from a team side, I think it's a really good opportunity to develop younger players, and to work on certain things, so as they rise up the ranks in the minor leagues in preparation for the big leagues, they're as best prepared to help the big league club as possible.
So I think there's the business side, which you're alluding to with the crabs and the fireworks and the little kid races around the bases and, on the baseball side, develop the younger guys as they progress through the ranks.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, I love that. I love that wholesome piece of it. I know that like, that wasn't really your first experience at the professional [00:06:00] level of baseball, right?
Jason Glushon: Well, I, my first ever job when I turned 16 that summer, specifically, I remember I worked at the local grocery store near my house, so I was the graveyard early shift from like 5 a.m. to 2. Then I think I had baseball practice, then I was a bat boy for the visiting team at Dodger Stadium. So for me, I thought that was the greatest thing ever, doing all that work and being around those players, and especially the visiting team.
While I grew up the biggest hardcore Dodger fan, getting a new team that came in every three or four games for each homestand was again, like just a really cool experience and taught me so much that has helped me probably to this day.
Marc Beckman: That's so incredible. So what did it teach you when you were a bat boy at Dodger Stadium? Was there, for example, an elite athlete that you came across as a teenager, you probably knew who it was given the fact that you were a baseball player and a baseball fan. Is there somebody that left such a lasting impression on you that it helped [00:07:00] shape your career or helped shape the way you interact with some of your clients today?
Jason Glushon: I wish there was one like a cool anecdote, a cool story that, that was like, "That was the turning point that Jason made." Like, I was lucky enough, whether it's Barry Bonds or A-Rod or even a local pitcher who was kind of a legend in LA who played for the Giants, Russ Ortiz, like you were able to talk to the guys and make some relationships and learn from them.
I think the bigger thing was just watching how they went about their business as professionals and how they like for a young kid even in high school like it's a game like I love baseball it's a game you watch it as a game but watching these guys as their profession and how seriously they take their craft and preparation was probably one of the biggest things.
And then also the other thing is, you know, you helped out in the clubhouse. There's a lot of clubhouse attendants and clubbies that do a lot of mundane tasks for all these players that are related, not related to baseball. For me, that was important because when I eventually played for the Oakland A's and even now, [00:08:00] when you are around a lot of the clubhouse attendants and ballboys and stuff, it gives you that much more appreciation, admiration, understanding of those jobs because those are really important.
Takes a full team. So those are probably the two important things. I think that stuck out the most from, from doing those bat boy days.
Marc Beckman: that's really nice. I love that. I'm not surprised you're saying that, honestly, like, we've known each other for several years, and I know that you've been, you know, a very respectful and compassionate person, so it seems like that's something, like, a core value that's been built into Jason J, so when, when you were, go back to the, the, um, stint in the minor leagues, that, you know, going back to that, it's a dream. I'm, I'm sure you were, you know, performing at an elite level and very capable if you were there for three years. What made you, in your mind, think, you know what, it's time for me to go to law school.
Maybe I've had enough of this minor league baseball experience. I would imagine that's a complicated, um, bridge to cross.
Jason Glushon: Well, you want to put all your chips in the basket, at least in [00:09:00] my head of like, I'm going to make the big leagues and do everything I can to make it and stay there, so you don't want to let anything else creep in of like, well, if I don't, should I plan for this or plan for that? Cause I feel like if you're not all in, you're not going to have a chance to get to that level as you climb up the mountain, the pyramid. And I remember talking to my family, especially my parents, that during those long bus rides, this is pre iPad or iPhones, but just on bus rides, there are some movies. It wasn't like it is now. But I think I brought law school books and was studying for like the LSAT during these 12-hour bus rides because I couldn't sleep with either that or playing cards.
And I was considering, I think after one of my first couple of years, I ended up taking the LSAT just to have it. It was good, I think, for, for five years, but I, goal number one was to make the big leagues. We'll call that goal number one, two, and three. But if I didn't, you know, the agent route, especially I was kind of interning at, you know, my previous company, that was always on the table.
So I figured I wanted to have all ducks in [00:10:00] a row should, you know, door number one end up not working out at the end of the day.
Marc Beckman: That's great. So you had a contingency plan. It's interesting if you look at athletes that go into the law profession. Somebody that inspired me personally to go into law is a hockey player. I don't know if you remember the very elite, arguably the best, goaltender at that time. Uh, he played for the Montreal Canadiens.
Ken, uh, Ken Dryden, I believe, was playing for the Canadiens then and he became an attorney. I don't know if you're aware of that story.
Jason Glushon: I know Patrick Waugh and Wayne Gretzky, but I'm not, I think Patrick Waugh was a goalie. I'm not the biggest, uh, hockey guy, but I will take your word for it Beckman on that one.
Marc Beckman: Patrick Waugh, amazing, amazing goalie, amazing person, amazing coach. So let's fast forward then let's get, let's get to the, the, um, incredible accomplishment. I mean, you've had such an impressive, 12, 18 months. It's been so fantastic watching you and rooting for you, honestly. As you know, from the [00:11:00] sideline, you, put together, with the Boston Celtics, the first $300 million contract extension in NBA history for Jaylen Brown, your client.
It's the most lucrative contract extension in the history of the NBA. Can you tell, just a little bit, summarize it, like, what, what is it about, what are the moving parts as far as, you Um, term, maybe some contingencies as far as like performance, goes, et cetera. And then, and then we, we could dig a little bit deeper into like what it's like to, to create that contract.
Jason Glushon: Well, a year ago in 2023, Jaylen, after a phenomenal season, received, uh, All NBA honors. And there's a rule in the collective bargaining agreement that going into that, you know, year left in his contract because he was All NBA, he was eligible to sign what's known as a super max deal. And out of his draft class, basically he's been on the same team the entire time and earned that.
He was the only player, [00:12:00] frankly, likely eligible or close to signing that deal. There were other guys that ultimately didn't sign. So, you know, he earned it. He deserved it. We had a negotiation, and ultimately ended up signing that five year super max deal. It has since been eclipsed by teammate Jason Tatum this summer, as expected after they won a championship.
But no, for him, like, it's, he, he deserves everything that's coming his way. He was obviously Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP this year in their first championship in 16 years. Um, but it was, you know, it was very exciting to be a small part of it, to help, you know, fight for him on his behalf.
To get You know, the contract that he so earned.
Marc Beckman: Just going back, you mentioned the word supermax, what exactly is the definition of a supermax contract?
Jason Glushon: So for certain NBA veterans within the league, if they hit certain criteria, whether it's defensive player of the year or all NBA or all star like there's a number of criteria that allows [00:13:00] them to kind of earn more percent of the cap. So a player like Jaylen Brown, who's been in the league less than 10 years, he can only earn 30%.
But if you hit certain supermax criteria, then he can jump to 35 of the cap. So that's what happened. to Tatum this past year, and that's what happened to Jaylen Brown last year.
Marc Beckman: So you think that these athletes make too much money? Is there. When they're generating 300 million dollars in income over a five year period for, you know, playing ball, are the numbers becoming obscene, Jason, in your opinion? Do you think it's just too much money?
I would ask, do you think the owners are making too much money? The owners of the Celtics put their, uh, the team on, uh, you know, going to sell it right now. They bought in the early 2000s for $300 million. They'll probably fetch it for 6 billion. That's a 200 return, I believe. So I think the players and those salaries obviously are well publicized, but the amount of money, and the equity, [00:14:00] and the significant raise of valuations of teams, far dwarfs what players are making at the end of the day.
Yeah, I mean just to be clear with you, personally, I I like, I'm a proponent, I'm an advocate of capitalism. I think both Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics deserve those valuations. I think they do a lot more than entertainment. They're putting people, um, into, the workforce. They're creating value in their community.
They're developing financial value in the community that floats all the way up as it relates to better healthcare, better quality food, and beyond. I'm a, I'm a big proponent of it, actually.
So Jason, you put together this Supermax contract on behalf of Jaylen Brown. It's worth three hundred million dollars over a five year period. Going into that conversation, you're probably thinking a little bit about strategy and plans and also thinking about Who's on the other side?
Who's [00:15:00] representing the Celtics? Who's representing the ownership? So who is it typically as an agent that's on the other side of the bargaining table with you?
Jason Glushon: It all depends on every deal and every organization. You have a combination, like you mentioned, of ownership. some teams have presidents, some teams have GMs and assistant GMs and other call it analytics groups in there. So every team is different at the end of the day. Given we've worked with the Celtics a good number of times with other deals, you know, we have a working relationship with their president who won executive of the year, Brad Stephens, um, Mike Zarren, one of their vice presidents as well as their ownership group.
So, on all the deals, it's usually a combination of that group.
Marc Beckman: Did both sides kind of get the sense that the number, would be locked, that it would be around 300 million or was that one of the, big points of negotiation?
Jason Glushon: Every negotiation is different at the end of the day and the agent's job is obviously to get the player the most amount of money and most amount of, you know, compensation, [00:16:00] protection, things like that. the team obviously always values players, but at certain limits because there's certain rules that are part of the collective bargaining agreement.
So, you know, at the end of the day, I'm happy that Jaylen obviously earned, because he's the one who got All NBA. He's the one who has been an all star in performing at that level, got the number I think he deserved. And I would think that both sides right now, especially a year later and right before his contract actually officially kicks in, we'd be pretty happy at where everything's at.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, it's incredible. I mean, the guy is literally the MVP of the Finals for the championship team. It's like such an accomplishment. How long, Jason, did the contract negotiation take?
Jason Glushon: I think we were officially able to start it at the beginning of July, and I believe at the end of July. I'm not sure when it was announced, but, um, you know, those things take time. You want to make sure every deal, no matter how small or big, it's, is done the right way, is forcibly like pushed for your clients.
So very few things kind of happen, you know, [00:17:00] snapping your fingers that quickly, no matter the numbers. but I think it was within the month at the end of the day,
Marc Beckman: And then philosophically, is your plan as you're negotiating on behalf of Jaylen during this time period that you go back and check in with him, explain like what progress or, or what pitfalls have, um, been reached at that point in time? How, how involved is Uh, Jaylen during that negotiation.
Jason Glushon: Well for, for any negotiation, you know, you want to make sure the player's aware of what's going on, taking a step back, no matter how little or how much money. This is their job. This is their livelihood. This is their career at the end of the day. So good or bad, you want to make sure they're informed as best you can.
there's a difference between informing them on the minute or on the daily versus, you know, once every couple days and things like that. So for every player, you obviously want to know your players well and know how to communicate with them to make sure that they're fully informed because this is their contract and their [00:18:00] career.
Marc Beckman: So J, you get to this point where, you know, now the, the negotiation has reached the point where you're happy. You as the agent, as the attorney, you realize that it's in a spot that's reasonable, maybe. Even more beneficial to your client. What are you thinking in your head at that point in time? Are you thinking, okay, the Celtics have come to the table, they've done a great job, and I'm going to tell my client now, advise him, let's take the deal and move forward, or like what's going on in your head?
Jason Glushon: I think at the end of the day, when you feel it's at a good place for a player to take the deal, you go over all the details, you go over the pros and cons, no matter how big the deal is, there's pros and cons to every deal, just like on the team side, you give your opinion, your professional opinion based on your work on that at the end of the day, And then you advise them, you know, what you think they should do.
But in the end, like you're just the agent, the player makes the decision. He can say no to a three million [00:19:00] dollar deal or yes to a three million dollar deal or same for a 300 or anywhere in between. So like you just want to educate as best you can every part of the deal and all what it means. and then hopefully the player obviously listens to you and trusts you that you've done a good job and fought for their behalf the best way you can.
Marc Beckman: So if we were going to architect the, um, body of an NBA contract or an NBA deal, Beyond what we're talking about as it relates to, uh, financial value and term, what other moving components are there?
Jason Glushon: So term is one. It could be one up to five years, depending on the situation. Money, financials is another deal, as you mentioned. There's bonuses that could be included. Um, there's trade kickers there's options, there's a team option, a player option. There's a million different small minutiae that is really important when you get to the finish line.
And obviously sometimes you have less or more leverage staying with the team at the end of the day. But those things are [00:20:00] all part, they're really on the bargaining table when you're negotiating for any deal, especially in basketball.
Marc Beckman: so, Jason, I'm curious. The relationship with, with, um, Jaylen is more than just, the relationship with the Celtics. It's also about his personal brand. I know that he's a dynamic individual from what I'm reading. I understand he dabbles a little bit in fashion, a little bit in tech and beyond. What is the story with NBA athlete branding today?
what is it and why is that important?
Jason Glushon: Every player is so unique and different and has such an incredible platform that they're really revolutionizing not just the way basketball, although they've done a really good job, but all athletes can not only connect with fans, but build out their own, like they're a business. You know, 50 years ago, um, players were, you know, professional athletes across the board.
They got their paycheck, they did their normal marketing deals, and that was it. [00:21:00] It probably started really with Magic Johnson. It got elevated a ton with Michael Jordan and this new era of guys, obviously spearheaded, whether it's LeBron, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, just as some examples, like they're businesses and they're able to do so many different things, whether it's fashion, production, things like that that are able to build sustainable businesses that sometimes earn more money than what they're earning on the court. And it's special because that's what you want as a player to be an owner at the end of the day, whether it's an owner of a franchise or their, their business model.
So it's fun to be part of because players right now are capable of frankly, accomplishing anything. And I think it's only going to continue to grow As we get, you know, further along with some of these new crop of young, really talented players that whatever they want, whatever goals they have in mind off the court, they're likely have the wherewithal connections and bandwidth to [00:22:00] kind of make that happen at the end of the day and follow kind of what I mentioned from Magic to Michael to LeBron and beyond of what these incredible basketball players have done.
Marc Beckman: Do the teams frown upon the off court branding, policy, like, is there like a, like a general sentiment amongst the teams that they want the players to just focus on basketball and that's it, or are they encouraging it because, you know, maybe it trickles into more LeBron jerseys being sold, more merchandise being collected and beyond
Jason Glushon: I think it's beneficial to everybody at the end of the day, obviously, as long as you continue to improve as a basketball player and keep the main thing the main thing, but like you mentioned, if players are doing incredible shoe endorsement deals or traveling the globe to their international fans, they're going to have more people flock and watch games and buy merchandise and visit and follow the NBA as a whole.
So I think these superstars and megastars is only beneficial, not just for each individual team in the NBA, but for the league as a whole. And I think they do a lot of things [00:23:00] additionally to really support that and do the same type of thing as well.
Marc Beckman: Glue, I know that you named a couple of like the, uh, past, legendary athletes, like, like Michael Jordan, but current day athletes, um, you know, athletes that are currently on the court, if you're going to rank like three of them, as far as like really building amazing brands, really building incredibly, um, inspirational businesses, who would you say are the top three?
Jason Glushon: Um, I don't know all the information of every player out there besides the ones that I work with. but from the outside looking in, you know, LeBron has done an incredible job, whether it's production with, you know, Uninterrupted and Spring Hill, you know, his shoe, his, most important, his school that he's done.
The more impressive thing is this day and age with social media. Like the biggest knock on LeBron off the court was when he did The Decision when in fact he was trying to raise money for young kids at a Boys and [00:24:00] Girls Club. If that's the biggest knock he's had in 21 years, he's doing something right.
It's pretty phenomenal from the outside looking in as an ambassador of the game. whether it's Russell Westbrook or Steph Curry, like those guys have done so much, but so much like we don't even know about. If I weren't in LA, I wouldn't know all the car dealerships that Russell Westbrook has because I get to see it all over the freeways, seeing his signs on the back of cars and everything.
So, I think there's also other players who are non all stars, like the three that I mentioned, that I'm sure are doing phenomenal things. Outside the court with their brand, what they're giving along with obviously our clients that we have too, that we're lucky enough to represent. Um, but it's a special time where you don't have to be one of the best players of all time to build up a brand, to build up content and connect with fans all over the world.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, it's interesting, and I understand that like, beyond the agents, assisting their clients with building a brand, that the league's player [00:25:00] association also has built a vertical to, um, help them with those off court endeavors. Have you seen, the players association really providing a lot of, um, useful and valuable insight as it relates to, um, building their personal brands.
Jason Glushon: They do a number of great things at the PA. Obviously they work directly for the players at the end of the day, whether it's marketing deals, they do trips all over the globe, um, to further the game of basketball, to further the brand. So. They're just additional, like for every player, you have a team and sometimes it's three and sometimes it's 33 and more people and groups that are there to support the players for whatever they're looking to accomplish because the game of basketball is in a great place but the goal for every player now is can they leave it when they retire in a better place than when they, you know, took it at the beginning for the next generation.
I think these current crop of NBA players have done a fantastic job doing that.
Marc Beckman: So Glue, is, does that become part of your [00:26:00] conversation when you're recruiting someone like Jaylen Brown as well? Like, for example, obviously you're super intelligent, um, education speaks for itself, but also you have a tremendous track record with other elite players, which we'll get into in a second. But are you also showing like a wider lens, like beyond the NBA when you're trying to attract a new client, here's what I can do for you off court with regards to building your personal brand and maybe a charitable overlay and beyond?
Jason Glushon: I think every agency job is to treat a player different of what they want to accomplish on and off the court. Some players just want to hoop, and that's it. Others want the world, and then some. And our job is to kind of do whatever a player and their family needs. And that's kind of what we've focused on.
We've tried to be successful at doing that for any one of our guys, no matter what position they're in in the NBA. Um, and that involves the things you alluded to, whether it's marketing, you know, charity, [00:27:00] branding, things like that. And that's the one thing is you can't, you're not treating someone better or worse, they just have to be treated differently because every person is different and every player and their career is completely different too.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, it's interesting, you know, like again, focusing on Jaylen Brown, we look at him, I look at him, he's a god, right? Physically, he's incredible. His accomplishments on the courts, I mean, just to rattle off some more of his milestones beyond the NBA Finals MVP. Award this year. Uh, he's a three time NBA all star.
He made the Eastern conference finals six times. He went to the NBA finals, not just this year, but in 2022, also, you know, without a doubt, this, this is a young man with, a very, very bright future in front of him. I think he deserves every penny of the $300 million contract.
But as you're talking, during the recruit process, he is a young man. And you mentioned the family is involved. Do you ever come into a situation where you really have [00:28:00] to work on convincing the family as much as the athlete to join your agency?
Jason Glushon: every situation is different and we're a family oriented agency. We're, I always view us as kind of a, a powerful boutique group. There's some really successful big agencies out there. There's smaller ones. Um, for us, the relationship with all of our players is really important and their families. So, like that's what we focus on.
If there was a player out there that just said, do the contract, Don't want to deal with you on a day to day basis. We probably give them numbers to really good agents and agencies out there, but for those who want a relationship beyond just doing the deal, that's what we really strive for and focus on.
Marc Beckman: in the recruiting process, there's gotta be a part of it that's really not glamorous, like, in your, uh, background, like, was there a piece of the recruiting process that you could reflect on and be like, you know, I spent countless hours driving around in, in, you know, remote [00:29:00] neighborhoods across the country, I was living in motels, like, what part of, of being a, you know, You know, you know, arguably the most impressive sports agent on the planet today.
what was it contradicted with? Like, what have you gone through that isn't so sexy that people should remember or know about?
Jason Glushon: Well, I appreciate the kind words. I don't know about the most successful sports agent. There's a ton in all these sports that are really successful and really good. I've been doing it for a lot longer than me, but no, like you, you go all over the globe. Like you mentioned, there's flights, there's hotel rooms, there's uh, rent a cars through places that aren't the most glamorous big cities, but that's part of the deal.
Like I, I actually like going to see clients or recruits, or hopefully we get them as clients, to see where they grew up and see what their family's all about in their hometowns. Is that different than New York where you live and LA where I live? Absolutely. But for me, like that's part of the journey. [00:30:00] Um, a friend of mine I always joke with where when you recruit somebody, There's so much that is out of your control.
You can kind of do your thing and obviously my joke is you run your race and as long as I run my race, you know, I'm not going to look left and right of what other agencies are doing or promising or how they're going about the recruiting. I'm going to, you know, pitch why I think we're one of the best out there and why we'd be a good fit for that player and family.
If it works out amazing, if it doesn't, you know, we're going to put our best foot forward at the end of the day. And that's what I love doing. I'm pretty genuine and straightforward. I'm not good at the BS a lot of the time, especially with families. And, you know, that's why we've been fortunate enough with the players we have that I think they really appreciate what we offer and our candidness at the end of the day.
Marc Beckman: Glue, you know, part of, um, my, me boasting about the fact that you are a very successful agent and in your career is because I know you as a person and one of your traits that I think is highly successful beyond just securing these [00:31:00] incredibly humongous contracts for your clients is Loyalty and it's not your loyalty to the athlete, but even your athletes loyalty to you So for example when you and I met you represented Al Horford who's also on the Boston Celtics championship team.
and I know that you worked with him and you had a lot of, uh, love and, and respect for him, not just as an athlete, but as an individual, and I know that you eventually secured a, a huge contract. I think it was over a hundred million dollars for Al, am I correct?
Jason Glushon: Yeah, we've done actually two since that, uh, that time, uh, for him over the years. So that's correct.
Marc Beckman: So how much for Al Horford?
Jason Glushon: He's, he's earned every penny and then some, so he's had a Hall of Fame career. but Al, like I've known Al a long time and Al, you know, when I, when I started my own company, it was kind of my first big deal and first client there followed by his other Boston teammate now, Jrue Holiday. [00:32:00] And it's one of those things where every agent, every person in any business always has their, their big break, their big start. And for me, it is Al Horford. It is Jrue Holiday and their families are incredible. But one thing that they probably would make fun of me about is I make sure to remind them of how kind of lucky and blessed I am and how I try not to ever take that. For granted, because if not for them, we may not be talking on this, you know, this interview right here and may not have the opportunity to have four NBA champions on the Celtics and some other incredible people who are clients as well.
So, you don't get that lucky in life sometimes. I know it's a mixture between hard work and luck, and obviously you need to have a little bit of both, but when it comes to especially, you know, the Holidays and the Horfords, you know, I'm very, very blessed.
Marc Beckman: the fourth player on this, championship team is Sam Hauser, correct? That's your client as well.
Jason Glushon: Sammy Hauser, that is correct.
Marc Beckman: So, did the [00:33:00] Celtics, after they won the championship, call you and thank you for building this championship team for them?
Jason Glushon: They did not. I happened to be lucky enough to be there. Brad Stephens and his front office with Mike Zarren and those guys, they built the team. We just happened to be very blessed and lucky to have four incredible players, incredible people, and really important members of that championship roster, contributors.
As part of that, so I actually remember speaking to a couple other agents in the business before they ended up winning. Like, have they been doing this for 20 plus years? Have they had an opportunity to be this close with some of these guys? And a lot of them said no, because it's very hard to obviously have a champion or multiple champions.
It's a lot harder to have, I think we had four of the seven rotational players, but even for me. As special as Sam and Jaylen are, like I mentioned, you know, Al and Jrue gave me my shot, [00:34:00] gave me my start. So having them win one together, it was Al's first, it was Jrue's second after he was traded there. Like it was a, um, it was a very special moment that, you know, will probably rank at the top or toward the top in anything I do in this line of work.
Marc Beckman: So, so like I alluded to, like you're, um, you're a very loyal, very dedicated individual at the core, and that translates to your career as well as to the relationships that you have with your clients. Um, when we first met, I saw it firsthand with Al Horford, um, behind the scenes. You were really fighting for him and wanted him to have the best and I'm sure that you take that into any type of contract negotiation on behalf of someone like Al Horford.
my first question to you is how do you develop a relationship that is, um, so authentic and so deep with, with an athlete, an elite athlete like Al Horford?
Jason Glushon: I think you just have to be yourself at the end of [00:35:00] the day. Like my kind of joke when even you're recruiting players is, I am who I am. And there's some really good agents out there. We, myself, are not for everybody. There's amazing players who make a lot of money that we would not be the best agency for.
And to think that we are for everybody, I think is incorrect. So it works out well that, you know, your value system and what you perceive like integrity and character, what's important traits, I think for me and my family, you know, are the same way for clients who are an extension of your family in that way.
Because just like, you know, their reflection on me and our group, like, we're a reflection on them as well. So, that's something that we've really tried to focus on with new clients of, you know, high character, high integrity. And, you know, Al encompasses that through and through from the beginning. Um, and that's sort of like when you have that as the [00:36:00] You know, our oldest tenured client, I'm not going to say oldest, but oldest tenured client, like those are just, you just got to be a normal person at the end of the day.
I mean, like you work for the players, it is business. You have to be on your game. You can't take it for granted. you know, you can be friendly and want to be friends with them and have a real relationship, but it has to. You have to do your job the same way these players are doing their job every single day at the top of the echelon.
There's only 450 NBA players in the entire planet, so you need to be on your game to do it each and every day when you wake up. Um, but for any player, Al included. Like, I am who I am, for better or for worse. And I think when you get to be yourself and be genuine, you don't have to hide anything. You can, you can straight shoot it on everything.
Same with you. If we were doing a deal for you Beckman, like here's what the deal is. This is why I think it's good. Here are the pitfalls and just be direct and real with them at the end of the day. And it's been a good start so far.
Marc Beckman: but it seems like your North Star, your point of difference, the [00:37:00] reason why an elite athlete would want to join your agency is based upon one of the core values that you just articulated. Integrity.
Jason Glushon: I think that's part of what's important to families. I think that's important. To a huge degree. For me, it's probably at the top. We also take great pride in getting the most amount of money for every client we possibly can on and on the court. I think it kind of fills in at the end of the day because every player, every family wants something different.
But for the players who I think are part of our company and like to join our company, That will be, you know, at the very top of what's important to them. At the end of the day, I agree with you on that.
Marc Beckman: So, so glue, what go, when you talk about getting the most money for an NBA athlete, what goes into the planning there? Like, for example, is the valuation for an NBA client today based on past performance? Is it based on future [00:38:00] potential? Is there like a, unique formula that you apply or that's standard in the NBA now for agents to lay out to show the team what the value of a contract really is worth.
Jason Glushon: There's no standard formula. I think every team does it different. They have obviously big time analytics divisions, and I'm sure every agency does it different. It's a combination of a million things. Number one, like you mentioned, what have they done for me lately? Number two, what are they going to do projections of potential in the future, whether your own team or projections that they'd fit in with a new team?
What is their age and players similar age similar position how they'll project as well over time You know, you also look at what the market is. So there's similar point guards at the end of day have the exact same stats, point guard number one last year got a hundred million dollars and point guard number two has the same exact stats, you figure well, he should get a hundred as well. But if there's not that many teams that need point guards, that's going to hurt his market at [00:39:00] the end of the day.
So you're going to take all these factors in and communicate that, not just with the players, so they understand what's going on, but obviously fight for your client on their behalf and how they fit in and help your team win more games and get closer to winning a championship. It's
Marc Beckman: interesting when you talk about supply and demand as it relates to NBA athletes. It's also interesting. when you talk about data and data analytics, but what about just the intangibles, right? Like, realistically speaking, somebody might be aging out, but you know, they have star power. They could fill the seats.
does the, person you're negotiating with on the other side say like, okay, we know that, you know, That this person maybe is in the autumn of his career. maybe his numbers aren't what they were five years ago or seven years ago, but we also acknowledge the fact that he's the draw and therefore we're going to give you, you know, a ton of money as a result of that.
Like, is it always based on [00:40:00] performance?
Jason Glushon: not based on performance. I don't know if it's draw, but there are ones you call veterans who, like you said, might be in the autumn of their career, however you want to phrase it.
Marc Beckman: They fill the seats.
Jason Glushon: It's not fill the seats less. I think business side, that's important. I think it's more so how do they affect the team, and the winning, and the younger guys?
Marc Beckman: Oh, interesting.
Jason Glushon: veteran. Who may have not had the numbers he used to have, but it's going to be a, a, uh, a legend in the locker room to help out with the younger guys and guide them and be that good vet to help them out and guide them throughout the years. We have a few of those guys at the end of the day, and that while you can't put an exact number on that is very valuable for any team, for any coach, for any franchise.
So I would think less on business of filling the seats and more about, you know, a veteran helping out the locker room and the younger guys that is invaluable in certain ways.
Marc Beckman: Which [00:41:00] veterans do you think really carry that spark and that knowledge in the locker room today? If you were going to name two or three of them, who would you highlight?
Jason Glushon: Well, our clients like Jeff Green, um, who's on the Houston Rockets is one of the most respected players in the entire NBA. He won a championship with Denver a couple of years ago and his nickname is Uncle Jeff and I think he's universally loved and respected by not just every player, but every teammate he's had or will have down the road at the end of the day.
Al Horford is still performing at the highest of levels, starting the NBA finals and doing an incredible job. But I think he's one of the more respected veterans in the league who's been around, same draft class, '07, as Jeff. but there's a lot of those guys that have been around and still remain around that are really valuable, really important.
And I think coaches and general managers know that. and that's why a lot of them are important to have on rosters, even if they're not playing 35 minutes a game like they have [00:42:00] early on in their career.
Marc Beckman: Glu, when I talked earlier about loyalty with regards to the athletes that you represent, something that came to mind was this concept. I didn't know it existed, honestly. until we got very involved as an agency with the NBA, with people like Russell Westbrook. the concept of poaching, where agents will go in and steal athletes from other agencies.
Like, is that, is that still a thing in the NBA today? What is it exactly? and what are your thoughts about how, uh, if it's real, how do you protect those, those clients? Is there anything an agent can do to, to make sure their clients are not poached?
Jason Glushon: Whether it's the NBA or entertainment or you're an accountant, I'm sure there's poaching that goes on at every level. Obviously, we talked about how a lot of these athletes make a lot of money. I do my best as I can to not poach any players. Players reach out. you know, it's a different [00:43:00] story, but I don't want to target players of other agents or agencies, especially these agents whom I really do respect and admire, but the real question which you asked was like, how do you prepare for it? And like I tell my wife, if I do everything I possibly can to the best of my ability for every one of our clients and their families. Each and every day, that's all you can control. That's all you can do. If you're worrying, like I wake up every morning and I truly believe that every day some agent out there is trying to poach one or more of our clients.
That's just, I think, the way of the world. And I think you're naive if you don't think that way, it might be an exaggeration. But if I do my job to the best of my abilities, that's all I can control at the end of the day. And like you mentioned before, if you have integrity. And you're genuine and you do a really good job.
Like if you don't do a good job, I think, you know, that's why players fire agents a lot. But if you do the best of your ability and you communicate with the player and their family and [00:44:00] fight for them and believe in them every day, that's all you can control. So it's, but I think it's not limited to the NBA agent-player relationship.
I'm sure in entertainment with celebrities and actors and singers and stuff, it happens all the time. And I'm sure in everyday businesses, whether you sell, you know, vegetables, you sell widgets, it's going on that way as well, too. Ours is just more publicized on a grand scale.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, for sure. And it's a lot of work. Like you got a lot of young, you know, good looking guys that are going out, you know, from city to city to nightclub to nightclub, they're in area and they're in places that, you know, can, can get them face to face with one of your competitors. So I think it would be tough to like, you know, run around after one of your elite athletes, everywhere they go, every night they're going out to like protect your interest.
I think it's too much and it makes a lot of sense to me that you're saying you can't lose sleep over things that you can't control. But what about basketball issues that, or [00:45:00] issues that impact the business of basketball that aren't on-court, which you might be able to control?
Like, for example, do you ever have an athlete that in, um, jeopardize an existing contract because they want to do something that is, um, perhaps endangering their, um, you know, their fitness? Maybe they can hurt themselves or injure themselves by doing something that has nothing to do with basketball.
Jason Glushon: Luckily, we haven’t. Like, there are strict rules in every contract in the collective bargain agreement that prohibits Players from mountain biking or skydiving and things like that. So players are smart. Players are well aware of all the rules on that. Um, again, we're just here to assist and make sure they're informed of all that.
But like players, I'm not going to say they're smarter than they were 15, 20 years ago, but they're very well versed in the business of basketball, both on and off the court, in my opinion.
Marc Beckman: What about when they start to get involved [00:46:00] in like, you might think it's a bad decision. Um, maybe they shouldn't be so vocal about politics or maybe you, um, think that they're interacting with the wrong people that might give them illegal performance enhancers or they're in a relationship with a woman that you know is just bad news.
Do you ever see that and step in and be like, Hey, you know, I'm here for you. We got to have a conversation almost in like a fatherly type of way.
Jason Glushon: Luckily I've not been in that situation.
Marc Beckman: That's phenomenal. what about bad coaches? Like here, here's something that I think is really interesting. You represent an elite athlete and the elite athlete ends up on a team or is already on a team that hires a bad coach. How does that impact, the athlete's performance? And do you have any say in trying to protect, one of your athletes from a bad coach?
Jason Glushon: Well, these coaches are pretty incredible. A lot of them in the league, but a lot of the time, like you, you have bad bosses, you have bad coworkers in office, like [00:47:00] basketball is no different than the real world at the end of the day. And until you're at the level where you're able to make this generational wealth, these big contracts, you need to do your job, no matter who your teammates are, who your coaches are, who your trainers are.
If there's certain things that on principle need to be addressed, that's the agent's job is to defend the player and talk to the front office and executives and potentially coaches to resolve an issue if that's what's the case. But if a coach is, you know, not doing the job that you think they're supposed to, you either talk to them or you do your job.
That's as simple as that.
Marc Beckman: Jrue Holliday is a client of yours. He's been a client for a long time, right? How many years now?
Jason Glushon: Um, I think over a dozen, I believe,
Marc Beckman: Um, I love Jrue. I've always loved him. I, I remember when you picked him up as a client. Um, I think I just read that he's going to be, uh, part of the USA basketball team in the Olympics. Am I, am I right?
Jason Glushon: he will be [00:48:00] competing in Paris for his second gold medal.
Marc Beckman: That's incredible. Who else is on the Olympic team this year?
Jason Glushon: LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kawhi, Devin Booker. There's a number of BAM. There's a number of good guys.
Marc Beckman: How far ahead is USA basketball from the rest of the world?
Jason Glushon: I wouldn't say how far, like they're some of the talented, most talented players in the entire planet. There's some other really good countries, some really good teams. We have a couple on Germany who beat USA last summer for the World Cup as well. So there's some really talented countries and players out there given the NBA is so international right now, one would think it should be the USA's year again, but it's going to be tough and that's how it should be on the international stage.
Marc Beckman: Who are the underdogs that you think could knock, USA out?
Jason Glushon: Well, from a selfish work perspective, Germany, led by Mo and Franz Wagner, who are clients of ours on the Orlando Magic. they have a really good team, Dennis Schröder, Daniel Theis, some other ones as well. [00:49:00] They won last year, so if there's, the two that I'll be cheering for will be the US and the Germans, that's for sure.
Marc Beckman: I know that you have an interesting background, right? Like you're, you're a baseball player, but your concentration is on basketball. Do you represent any athletes beyond basketball?
Jason Glushon: Just basketball.
Marc Beckman: you ever?
Jason Glushon: Never say never, but I've heard that question a lot, especially from my baseball background, but it's difficult. It's all encompassing just for basketball. Like my, my one line that I like to use that's different than it used to be, cause it's so much involved in representing all athletes, not just basketball is it's July run.
and it's free agency, and that's summer league for basketball. But if you had top baseball players, you'd be All Star Game coming up. And how are you going to balance Which one's more important at the end of the day, visiting your young rookies in summer league or doing free agency or going to see your star in the MLB All Star game.
So for me personally, I don't see us potentially getting into other sports, but I always say, never say never.
Marc Beckman: Do you think there are going to be some big moves, in [00:50:00] free agency, some big trades during the off season? And if so, what do you predict?
Jason Glushon: Well, we've already seen Paul George go from the Clippers to Philly, which is obviously a really big move. And they kind of got their big three of him, Joel and Maxey. you know, there've been some other ones like, DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento. So there's some bigger moves out there It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the summer goes and everything, but it will be, uh, there's some really good teams out there.
And then there's some other teams that I think are focused on next year's draft who has a really good crop of younger players.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, I see that, you forgot to mention in the East how the Knicks are going to probably challenge your Boston Celtics now.
Jason Glushon: I love the New York Knicks. We have two clients on the Knicks, made the move for Bridges. So they'll be really, really good. They were in the second seed last year. Um, they stay healthy. They, they definitely have the best shot as anyone to, uh, to win a championship next year.
Marc Beckman: I want to have some fun with you as it relates to you being a real sports fan. I want you to take off your agent's hat for a second and tell me who's [00:51:00] better, Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
Jason Glushon: Basketball wise, I'd have Michael Jordan.
Marc Beckman: Magic versus Michael. I know you're a Lakers guy.
Jason Glushon: I'd have Michael on that at the end of the day.
Marc Beckman: All right, let's get serious about baseball for a minute. I know your roots are with the Dodgers, but who do you want to coach? Who do you want to manage? Tommy Lasorda or Billy Martin?
Jason Glushon: I'm a Tommy Lasorda guy all the way through, I
Marc Beckman: Give me a break. Reggie Jackson or Steve Garvey?
Jason Glushon: I'd probably do Mr. October for you right now.
Marc Beckman: Good answer, good answer. Is it off limits if I ask you to rate, um, agents that are very famous who came before you? want to coach?
Jason Glushon: we can try. I can always plead the fifth or pass on the question.
Marc Beckman: Scott Boras versus Drew Rosenhaus.
Jason Glushon: I'm a baseball guy. I'd go with Scott Boras at the end of the day.
Marc Beckman: Good answer. All right, '95-'96 Bulls [00:52:00] versus the '71-'72 Lakers.
Jason Glushon: I'd rather do '95-'96 Bulls versus either the '01-'02 Lakers or the 2000-2001 Lakers or even the you know, the 80s Showtime Lakers at the day, that's what I
Marc Beckman: Well, okay, so then let's go there. Let's go Celtics Lakers. '85-'86 Celtics or the '86-'87 Lakers? I know where you're
Jason Glushon: was a Laker fan growing up, I think, correct me if I'm wrong, but in the 80s, I think the Lakers won five and the Celtics won three, I believe.
Marc Beckman: I can't correct you. You're the basketball guy.
Jason Glushon: I think that was, uh, that was the Lakers then. Now this, this time, obviously, you know, very happy the Celtics won last year, very much so, but with those 80s teams, I would pick the Lakers, obviously.
Marc Beckman: I love California politics. I think California governors are incredible. Best governor. Reagan, Schwarzenegger, or Newsom?
Jason Glushon: I wasn't around when Reagan was governor, I, I'm not [00:53:00] aware of all the accomplishments of Schwarzenegger or Newsom, so, I don't know who the best one will be out of those three.
Marc Beckman: Glue every guest who joins me, finishes the show by me starting the name of it, Some Future Day, with a little bit of a relevant sentence, and then finishing the sentence for me. It's a leading question, attorney. Are you game?
Jason Glushon: I am game.
Marc Beckman: In some future day, Jason Glushon as one of the most respected agents will accomplish.
Jason Glushon: Well, look, some future day I will accomplish looking back and being proud of all, of all the work I've done for all of our guys and the company that I've built, that I can look my grandkids in the eye. and tell them that their grandfather was kind of a really good guy who did some good work back in the day.
That's what I want to accomplish.
Marc Beckman: Glue, is there anything we didn't cover today?
Jason Glushon: [00:54:00] No, I really, uh, I really enjoyed it. Obviously, uh, I, I love seeing you. So whether virtually in person, I'll take whatever I can get these days. and I think it's a good, uh, a good chance. Hopefully there's someone who's, who's watching, especially the younger generation that at least One of my answers, they got some good information that can help their future careers as well.
That's the goal at the end of the day.
Marc Beckman: You're definitely inspirational, and I really appreciate your time today, Jason. Thank you so much, and again, congratulations with all of your awesome accomplishments.
Jason Glushon: Appreciate it. Back to you Beckman and, I will see you soon. Thanks for having me.