Espn refers to Bill Duffy as one of Yao Mings Agents. As I have never heard of this association prior to the article, I thaught other poaters might know if Bill Duffy latched onto Yao Ming? Or is this just visions of grandeur ? His name was never mentioned alongside of cousin Eric or Chicago Proff. John H.
He was Yao's original agent before Eric Zhang got involved. He was the one that negotiated the Nike shoe deal. Most of the people on "Team Yao" are there to work with the Asian market or to determine what marketing is a good idea. Duffy is the guy that handles the contracts, particulary when it comes to sports and sports-related merchandising.
Bill Duffy was the man responsible for bring Yao to the states. He spend over $250K of his own money building relationships and what not. He found Yao like 5 years back, before the hype ever started.
This guy might be very much like Yao, humble/smart/integrity. I heard he does not even include Yao in his client list for marketing his firm. I guess Yao is not his traditional client since there are other people who are working as a team and he is just one of them.
Billy Duffy is a great agent and is very good at what he does he knew Yao about four years and been in contact with them ever since. I am actually suprized you have not heard of him and his company he has alot of top knotch players under his organization. I have enclosed a player list and a recent article that was printed about Bill Duffy: NBA Athletes - International Athletes NBA ATHLETES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terrell Brandon Minnesota Timberwolves NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony Carter Miami Heat NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speedy Claxton San Antonio Spurs NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Antonio Davis Toronto Raptors NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg Foster Indiana Pacers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Foster Indiana Pacers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drew Gooden Memphis Grizzlies NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nate Huffman Toronto Raptors NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marko Jaric Los Angeles Clippers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Freddie Jones Indiana Pacers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Langhi Phoenix Suns NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yao Ming Houston Rockets NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Nash Dallas Mavericks NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rasho Nesterovic Minnesota Timberwolves NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Olowokandi Los Angeles Clippers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milt Palacio Cleveland Cavaliers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tayshaun Prince Detroit Pistons NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joel Przybilla Milwaukee Bucks NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zeljko Rebraca Detroit Pistons NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kareem Rush Los Angeles Lakers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Stewart Cleveland Cavaliers NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jay Williams Chicago Bulls NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shamond Williams Boston Celtics NBA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS AMERICAN PLAYERS IN EUROPE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louis Bullock Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bennett Davison Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Antonio Granger Turkey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Hart Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kyle Hill France -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Horace Jenkins Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DeMarco Johnson Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quincy Lewis Israel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brad Traina Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPEAN PLAYERS IN EUROPE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Betts Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miroslav Beric Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zarko Cabarkapa Yugoslavia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Christoffersen Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Conley Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarence Gilbert Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aleksandar Glintic Yugoslavia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milan Gurovic Spain -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Hansell Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nikola Jestertijevic Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marko Jovanovic Yugoslavia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dejan Koturovic Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zoran Kukic Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaka Lakovic Greece -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aleksandar Nadjfeji Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stevan Nadjfeji Russia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ademola Okulaja Spain -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marko Pesic Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Veselin Petrovic Yugoslavia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slaven Rimac Croatia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matjas Smodis Italy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is approaching dawn on June 26, the day of the 2002 NBA draft. Walnut Creek agent Bill Duffy has been on the phone continuously since the previous evening monitoring negotiations with Yao Ming's team, the Shanghai Sharks. If the Sharks receive satisfactory monetary compensation and release Yao's rights to the NBA, the Houston Rockets will make him the No. 1 pick in the draft that evening. If not, the Rockets will pass on Yao and trade the first pick, rather than take the obvious alternative, Jay Williams, because Houston already has a proven point guard in Steve Francis. That creates additional pressure for Duffy, who besides being an adviser to Yao the past four years, is also the agent for Williams. If Yao is released, Williams knows he'll be taken with the No. 2 pick by the Bulls. If not, Williams' NBA future is up in the air, and uncertainty is angst to athletes. The Yao outcome also would have a ripple affect on the NBA future of Drew Gooden, the former El Cerrito High School and Kansas star, who is expected to be taken fourth or fifth in the draft. His anxiety is rising about his undetermined fate, and he is also represented by a member of Duffy's company, Calvin Andrews. "We were all very nervous," said Althea Williams, Jay's mother, who, along with Jay and Duffy were staying at a New York City hotel so they could be present at the draft. Then, at 5 a.m., the rising tension suddenly breaks; Duffy receives confirmation that Yao has been released by the Sharks. The anxiety dissolves, and things drops nicely into place that night. The Rockets take Yao, the Bulls choose Williams, and, after the Warriors take Mike Dunleavy, Gooden goes to Memphis with the fourth pick. Before the night is over, Duffy and his company, BDA Sports (Bill Duffy and Associates), will enter the realm of elite NBA agents, representing three of the top four NBA picks and six of the first 23 choices: Williams, Gooden, Freddie Jones, Kareem Rush, Tayshaun Prince and Yao. Yao's unique representation group (Team Yao) revolves around three people: University of Chicago graduate student Erik Zhang and University of Chicago business school deputy dean John Huizinga, neither of whom had any previous sports management experience, and Duffy, Yao's marketing agent. Duffy does not have a high-powered look or persona. Married and the father of five, none of whom is older than 9, he works out of his home in a wooded part of Walnut Creek, where a meal at Chili's constitutes a power lunch. But with Mike Sullivan, whose clients include the No. 1 picks of the past two NFL drafts (Michael Vick and David Carr), also working out of Walnut Creek, this piece of East Bay suburbia is becoming a haven for pro sports representation. According to one high-ranking NBA administrator, Duffy, 42, has virtually caught up to the NBA's big-city power agencies. "And," said the administrator, "he's doing it in a very nice way -- quiet and professional. 'Unscrupulous agent' should not be one word, and with Bill it isn't." "BDA Sports did so well this year," said one prominent sports-business journalist, "that many in the industry were wondering what he was giving away." Apparently he's giving away only Bill Duffy, an amalgam of various life experiences and a basketball talent that might have landed him in the NBA if he had so chosen. Santa Clara's top scorer in 1982, Duffy was a fifth-round draft pick of the Denver Nuggets, and shooting around with Yao and Williams helped land both. "When he beat Jason in HORSE," said Althea Williams, "I think Bill had him." He had Althea and her husband, David, on their first meeting. When interviewing a dozen prospective advisers following Williams' sophomore year at Duke, the Williamses' first question to each was what he thought of their decision to have Jason return to college for another year to graduate, even though he would have been the No. 1 pick in 2001. Many backed out. Most tried to change their minds. "Bill said the decision was different, but thought it was the right decision," Althea Williams said. She found comfort in Duffy, who, unlike many agents, is not a lawyer. "Bill doesn't look like agent, didn't act like an agent, and never talked negatively about anyone," she said. His demeanor in the moments before the draft, when player and family are fraught with anxiety, made a lasting impression. "Bill sat there cool, calm and collected," Althea said."We needed to know, and he never batted an eye. He just looked over at me and my husband and gave us a slight smile. I could cry right now thinking about it." Maybe Duffy was calm because, hours earlier, the deal on Yao had been closed. Four years earlier, after seeing Yao play in the United States, Duffy arranged a meeting with Yao and his parents in China. The language and cultural differences did not distance Duffy, whose life experiences made it seem natural. The son of an African American army colonel, Duffy grew up saying, "Yes, sir," and having his clothes tossed onto the lawn when his room was messy. He went to kindergarten and first grade in Taiwan, surrounded by Asian children, then moved to a black neighborhood in Pomona (Los Angeles County), attending a predominately Hispanic elementary school and Catholic high school that was almost exclusively white. He grew up with adopted siblings who were Korean and Chinese. "I couldn't help but be color-blind," he said. Duffy hit it off with Yao and his family, and the next day he went to the gym with the 7-5, 18-year-old Yao to shoot around. "He was matching me on 3s," said Duffy. "I was blown away." At Yao's request, Duffy immediately began investigating how to get Yao to the NBA, starting a wild logistical and cultural adventure that the NBA and Chinese basketball had never seen. Erik Zhang, a 28-year-old business student and distant relative of Yao's, joined Duffy as an adviser two years ago and handled the face-to-face negotiations with the myriad Chinese factions that had to sign off on Yao even after the Sharks released him. "It was a new thing for them, and you're talking about taking away the Michael Jordan of China," Zhang said. Every few weeks Duffy confronted an obstacle he thought could not be surmounted. "But then when I heard Yao's voice, I said, 'Oh man, we've got to stick with this.' He's such a nice guy and so loyal. He'd get on the phone and talk to my kids." On Oct. 17, the final agreement was reached with the Chinese Basketball Association after Yao gave assurances he would continue to play for the Chinese national team. As the agent for Steve Nash, Antonio Davis, Michael Olowokandi and others, Duffy had been through numerous foreign and domestic negotiations. But he'd never experienced anything as taxing, as costly, as complicated as this. Would he do it again? "Only for Yao," he said. You can find out more about him at www.bdasports.com
That is the kind of impression I got from reading different articles related to Yao Ming. Bill Duffy helped Yao Ming a lot. For example he helped Yao Ming get out of a very unfair contract where one agent was supposed to receive 30% of Yao Ming's NBA income. The reason Duffy didn't become the offical agent of Yao was because of the opposing from Shanghai Sharks. I don't know the details on why Sharks dislike Duffy, but Sharks' position was if Duffy is the agent, Yao can't go to NBA. However, Yao Ming showed his loyalty by letting Duffy take care of his marketing and let Eric take care of his contract negotiation to smooth Sharks. Shrimpie
Bill Duffy is an awesome person as well. If it wasn't for Bill Duffy, Yao wouldn't be playing and Yao has mentioned that Duffy is the reason why Yao is here. I remember reading something about Duffy where he was on the brink of giving up on Yao due to all the red tape of the chinese government. Yao used to talk to Duffy's kids over the phone and what not and Duffy was so touched by Yao that Duffy couldn't give up on a guy like Yao. Some interesting info, Duffy was a military kid...meaning he traveled wherever his dad, who was a colonel, went. Duffy grew up as a little kid in tawain so he knew how the Asian society worked. He also has adopted Asians siblings. Once again, very much like our friend Yao...Duffy is a very special character.
Well, considering this was 4 years and it was way before the hype ever began, I'd say he was making a big risk. He had to go through all the political red tape and what not just for Yao to come work out here. At one point, Duffy wanted to give up because the work load on Yao was over bearing. But he persisted and thanks to him, Yao is playing right now. Yao's thankful for him and thats why he is one of Yao's agents.
There was someone else before Duffy who could've brought Yao to the NBA earlier but Duffy convinced the Yao family otherwise. Yao would've made more money if he had crossed over earlier as the chinese government then hadn't re-introduced the 50% athlete tax but may have ended up at Dallas perhaps the reason why Cuban seems to have an issue with Ming?
Actually not really the goverment would not let him go earlier back in 1999 the Shanghai Shark GM and coach came to Houston to see a friend here and asked if Yao should go to college or try to get drafted at that time I think George town and a few other colleges were interested in him and actually their was a chance that he could of also gone to the University of Houston. But all of this did not happen, and thank god Francis got lucky or else we still would not have him.
Excellent article, great read. Duffy sounds like a real good guy, and genuine too. It was nice to hear how Yao was still loyal to him even after the Sharks forced him to pick someone else as agent. HA HA! I guess Bill shot mainly from the free throw line during that game.
