Q and A: Professional Basketball Agent David Castillo (Innovative Sports Group)

I was fortunate to ask a handful of questions with Innovative Sports Group agent David Castillo to give myself and players a great perspective on what agents look for, what it takes to make it, and some general advice for players looking to get a contract.  Castillo has been highly successful in his career as an agent as he was able to learn from many great minds in his field.

ISG Agent David Castillo

1. Describe your background and how you came about being a basketball agent?  What would you recommend to those who are looking to follow in your path?

My path was fairly simple and straight forward. I knew I wanted to be an agent going into college. I got my degree in business administration with a minor in Sports Management and did some internships and mentor-ships during school with two of the biggest agencies on the west coast. I asked a lot of questions to individuals who were successful and knew I was ready after I finished school.

I would recommend individuals wanting to get into the industry to do some internships and build some long lasting relationships.

2. What kind of players do you represent, and in what leagues do they play?

I represent high level players who have played in the D-League and in high level Europe and South America. 

3. What are some attributes a player can have that make him more attractive to front offices?

Versatility is a big thing to front office staffs. Everyone wants someone who can play different positions on both ends of the court and can be used in many different ways.

4. What are some personality traits you look for in a player that you are looking to represent?

I like the individual who has a laid back and relaxed personality off the court. Someone who I won't have to worry about at 3am.

5. Where do you go to look for players?  Do you watch a lot of college basketball, go to a number of camps, or is it through connections?

It is a mixture of everything. I watch a tremendous amount of college basketball and utilize connections I have as well to contact players once they have exhausted their eligibility. I attend many camps during the summer months as well to speak with both players and front office staff members.

6. There are a lot of players out there who do not feel they need an agent, how do you respond to that?

While there are players who can find jobs for themselves, I believe you should always have someone in your corner to help mediate conflicts or issues you may have in the future with a team. It can make a situation less difficult with teams by having information coming from an agent instead of from the player directly.

7. What are some of the biggest frustrations you deal with when trying to get a player placed?

Watching a team pick a player who is not as good as the player I am offering can become frustrating at times, but it is the nature of the business.

8. Once a player is in his country, how important is it to adapt to their new culture?

It is extremely important to adapt to their new culture. It will be a place they will be living for the next 8 months or so. The faster a player can adjust off the court the faster they will be able to adjust and relax on the court.

9. If you could give one piece of advice to players striving for contracts out there, what would it be?

Don't give up; and utilize your friends who are playing on teams. Contact, make calls and don't just rely on your agent to fins jobs for you. Doing that will help improve your chances of obtaining a contract.