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The business of basketball, one question at a time
Every article answers one question a player or family actually searches, with the rule, the number and the source. Search below, or filter by topic or series. Written by McKinley Malbrough III, a certified WNBA player agent.
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Showing all 31 articles, newest first.
How does the WNBA expansion draft work?
Each existing WNBA team submits every player it holds rights to, protects a set number of them, and the new team picks from everyone left. The league writes fresh rules…
NBA · October 4, 2026How do NBA rookie scale extensions and restricted free agency work?
A first-round pick can sign a rookie scale extension in the summer before his fourth season, for up to five years. The 2026 deadline is October 19 at 5:00 p.m. Central. A…
Youth · October 1, 2026How do you get recruited for college basketball?
Get seen, get on a coach’s list early and make the coach’s job easy. A player controls the work: grades, film against strong opponents, short emails to coaches at…
Youth · October 1, 2026How do you get a basketball scholarship after the House settlement?
Earn a roster spot at a level that funds athletic aid, then get the offer in writing. Division I removed scholarship limits but capped basketball rosters at 15. Division…
NBA · October 1, 2026How do you play professional basketball, and what does each path pay?
Become good enough to be paid somewhere, then pick the path that fits. The main routes are the NBA draft, the G League, the WNBA, overseas leagues and development…
NIL · October 1, 2026What is an NIL collective, and how do collectives work after the House settlement?
An NIL collective is a group, usually funded by a school’s boosters, that pays athletes for name, image and likeness work. Since the House settlement, collective deals…
Youth · October 1, 2026What does California law require of sports agents?
California regulates sports agents under the Miller-Ayala Athlete Agents Act. Before working as an athlete agent, a person must file a public disclosure statement with…
Youth · October 1, 2026Why does a basketball agent scout close to home in the Bay Area?
Because the evaluation is better and the cost is lower. The Bay Area has six Division I men’s programs and four CIF high school sections within driving distance, so a…
WNBA · September 29, 2026What is the Women's Premier Basketball Association, and why does it matter?
Inside the WPBA: Part 1 of 3The Women's Premier Basketball Association (WPBA) is an Oakland-based professional development league for women, founded in 2022 and sanctioned by FIBA. Its eight Bay…
FIBA · September 29, 2026How did a Bay Area league reach FIBA's top women's club tournament?
Inside the WPBA: Part 2 of 3The WPBA sends its Bay Area Phoenix to FIBA's Women's Basketball League Americas, the top club tournament for women in the Americas. In 2024 the Phoenix, the first U.S.…
WNBA · September 29, 2026Why does women's basketball need development leagues like the WPBA?
Inside the WPBA: Part 3 of 3Because the WNBA has far more qualified players than roster spots. In 2026 the league carried 217 players across 15 teams, and every year more pro-ready women finish…
NBA · September 28, 2026Can a basketball agent represent coaches, and what does it require?
Yes. No union certifies coach agents, so no exam or fee cap applies. The limits come from player agent rules: an NBPA agent cannot personally represent an NBA head coach,…
FIBA · September 28, 2026How do you become a FIBA agent and represent players overseas?
Becoming a basketball agent: Part 4 of 4To represent players in international transfers you need a FIBA agent license. Any individual in good standing can apply with a passport and criminal background check,…
NIL · September 28, 2026How do you get NCAA certified to represent college basketball players?
Becoming a basketball agent: Part 3 of 4To represent Division I men's basketball players weighing the NBA draft without costing them eligibility, an agent needs NCAA certification. That requires three…
WNBA · September 28, 2026How do you become a WNBA agent, and what does the process look like?
Becoming a basketball agent: Part 2 of 4To represent WNBA players you must be certified by the Women's National Basketball Players Association. Its regulations require a four-year degree or negotiating or…
NBA · September 28, 2026How do you become an NBA agent, and what are the requirements?
Becoming a basketball agent: Part 1 of 4To represent NBA players you must be certified by the National Basketball Players Association. That means a four-year degree or relevant negotiating experience the NBPA…
NBA · September 27, 2026How do Steph Curry's and LeBron James's contracts compare, and what do they mean for 2026-27?
Curry earns $62.6 million in 2026-27, the largest cap hit in the league, and just signed a two-year, $115.9 million extension that starts in 2027-28, about $20 million…
Youth · September 27, 2026Who should a young player trust: agents, NIL advisors and recruiting services?
Trust credentials, written terms and people who get paid when the player gets paid. A certified player agent is licensed by a players association; an NIL representative…
Youth · September 27, 2026How should families compare multiple college offers?
Compare the whole package, not the headline number. A 2026 offer can include an athletic scholarship, a revenue-share agreement with the school and third-party NIL. Only…
Youth · September 27, 2026What does the NCAA's new age-based eligibility rule mean for reclassifying and prep years?
Under the NCAA's five-for-five rule, adopted June 23, 2026, Division I athletes get five seasons of competition within five years. The clock starts at full-time college…
Youth · September 27, 2026Can high school players earn NIL money, and what are the rules in my state?
In most states, yes. At least 40 states allow high school athletes to earn NIL money, and some 2026 counts put the number as high as 45, but there is no national…
Youth · September 27, 2026Is AAU worth it, and are pay-to-play exposure tournaments worth the money?
It can be, at the right age and the right level. Travel basketball commonly costs a family $4,000 or more a year once travel is included, and exposure to college coaches…
Youth · September 27, 2026How can a young player improve their game from middle school through high school?
Build the athlete first and the basketball player second. The NBA and USA Basketball recommend delaying single-sport specialization in basketball until age 14 or older,…
FIBA · September 26, 2026How do overseas basketball contracts work?
Most overseas contracts pay a monthly salary, often written as net, meaning the club covers local income tax. Housing, a car and flights home are common extras. FIBA caps…
FIBA · September 26, 2026What is a FIBA letter of clearance?
A letter of clearance is FIBA's certificate that a player is free to transfer internationally and can be licensed by a new national federation. The new federation…
WNBA · September 26, 2026How much does a WNBA rookie make in 2026?
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft earns $500,000 in her first season, and about $2.2 million over a four-year rookie deal. Every first-round pick earns at least…
WNBA · September 26, 2026How much do WNBA players make under the new CBA?
Under the collective bargaining agreement ratified in March 2026, WNBA salaries run from a minimum of $270,000 to $300,000, based on years of service, to a $1.4 million…
NBA · September 26, 2026What is a two-way contract in the NBA?
A two-way contract splits a player's season between an NBA team and its G League affiliate. In 2026-27 it pays $678,882, half the rookie minimum, and allows up to 50…
NBA · September 26, 2026How much do NBA rookies make in 2026-27?
First-round picks are paid on the rookie scale, tied to the 2026-27 salary cap of $164,961,000. The No. 1 pick's four-year deal is worth more than $65 million and the No.…
NIL · September 26, 2026Do college athletes pay taxes on NIL money?
Yes. NIL income is taxable whether or not a tax form arrives. Most NIL pay is self-employment income, so athletes owe federal income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax,…
NIL · September 26, 2026How does revenue sharing work for college basketball players?
Schools that opted in to the House settlement can pay athletes directly, up to about $21.58 million per school for the 2026-27 academic year, across every sport they…
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