(Photo via IUHoosiers.com)
While an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, Indy native and North Central High School grad Evan Gordon began contemplating what he wanted to do for a profession. He wanted to work in sports, there was no doubt about that. The idea of being a sports agent intrigued him and thus he started working towards that goal during his junior year.
Gordon, who began his career at Liberty University, his father’s alma mater, played his final year at Indiana University after a stop at Arizona State. With one year of eligibility remaining, he took full advantage of the NCAA’s rule allowing one to transfer and play immediately if the graduate program was not offered at his previous school.
Gordon averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in a role of 20.4 minutes per game off the bench. He graduated from IU in May with a master’s degree in Sports Management. His bachelor’s degree from Arizona State was in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in accounting.
For three weeks, once he knew his time at Arizona State was complete, Gordon learned at the sports agency that represents his older brother, Eric.
Rob Pelinka, who represents the New Orleans Pelicans guard, helped teach Evan about the industry. Pelinka’s agency, Landmark Sports Agency, reps other well-known players such as Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Andre Iguodala. With the resource of a prominent agency and one of the top agents in the NBA, Evan was set on following this through.
Gordon now has his own company, ECG Sports Agency, which is registered in Scottsdale, Ariz. and said he is both NBPA and FIBA certified. Evan said he is already doing some work for Eric, in terms of marketing and their dealings with adidas.
Building a reputation and brand – not only with players but organizations – takes times and there is certainly a learning curve. With so many friends in the basketball community, both recent graduates and those still in college, Evan is hoping to soon have a solid clientele.