Duane Martin: The Free Agent Who Played the Game Differently

Story By ~ Kailen Hicks

Before Rich Paul made headlines.

Before athletes were moguls with media companies.

Before player empowerment became a business model.

There was Duane Martin — a former pro hooper who seamlessly juggled two lanes: actor and agent. And not just any agent, one who repped Hall of Famers, negotiated history making deals and helped reshape what representation could look like for Black athletes.

Most people remember him from “Above the Rim,” where he held his own against Tupac in one of the most iconic sports films ever. But behind the scenes, Martin was quietly building something just as legendary: a sports agency that once managed more than a billion dollars in contracts — all while he was still showing up on sitcom sets and red carpets.

“I wasn’t just walking into locker rooms. I was being invited to the barbecue,” Martin tells The Trade. “CAA, IMG… they didn’t have that. But I did.”

It wasn’t just about the flash or headlines. It was about trust. That’s why players like Ray Lewis, Kawhi Leonard, Bartolo Colón, Vincent Lecavalier and Teresa Edwards signed with him. That’s why he helped Chris Carter become the first underclassman allowed into the NFL Draft. That’s why he mentored a young Rich Paul out of CAA before Paul built his own empire.

“Other people may come into it for monetary reasons, for the glamour, to become a celebrity themselves. But for me, I always felt like athletes and entertainers make the world happy,” Martin said. “These guys needed representation that’s going to be truthful. Somebody that they can trust, speaks their language. That’s why I got into it. We read headlines where athletes and entertainers are being taken advantage of. So that was my purpose.”

Martin, by design, kept his business moves in the shadows. He never wanted fame.

“Somebody’s got to be Batman, and somebody’s got to be Robin,” he says. “And I was always cool playing the one who watched your back.”

Now, Martin’s ready to step out. It's not for ego, but to finally tell the story behind the stories. He teamed up with director Deon Taylor, known for films such as “Fatale” and “The Intruder,” to bring his untold journey to the screen with “Free Agent,” a TV series that explores what happens before the game and after the fame.

From turning down “Above the Rim” until they agreed to film it in New York (“I’m not faking Rucker Park in Venice Beach”) to raising money for indie films backed by athletes, Martin has always been about betting on himself. Even when no one was watching.

He’s been called a point guard for stars, a protector of players, and — as Denzel

Washington once told him — the one.

And now? He wants that Emmy.

How Did the Agency Hustle Start?

Martin’s first foray into the agency space came in college, when a connection through his high school coach landed him an internship at a sports agency while at NYU. He was already hooping there — later signing with the Knicks in 1989 — but behind the scenes, he was cutting up highlight reels and mailing VHS tapes to find the next wave of stars. 

With his former high school teammate Mitch Franco, Martin learned the business early. He had hustle and strategy.

“When I go into a lot of homes, and I'm sitting down with an underclassman, I have to share with the family that all of the other people that's coming in here to interview with you are here on my efforts,” said Martin. ”The reason why your family can realize your dream is because we challenged the NFL to allow your son to come into the draft. That went a long way with a lot of juniors.”

He Stayed in the Shadows So His Players Could Shine

At its peak, Duane Martin’s Impact Sports Agency managed more than $700 million in athlete contracts. His approach was rarely about headlines or press.

Instead, he prioritized loyalty. Players felt comfortable with him.

Martin’s mantra? Put the player first, stay in the shadows and protect the dream.

“I was the guy that the player was first. I was always in the shadows. I'm the first one in the room. I'm the last one out. It's all about my players, and they knew that,” said Martin. “I think that's why a lot of other notable people had a lot of difficulty, because it was about them.”

What Separated Martin From the Rest of the Crowd?

Martin believes his edge came from living the life of the people he represented. That realness helped him build bonds no corporate firm could touch. He signed players at 2 a.m. in nightclubs, not boardrooms. He wasn’t trying to impress. He was trying to relate.

“I think a deciding factor for a lot of players [was that] I got invited to the barbecue… Lee Steinberg, IMG, CAA, those guys didn't get invited to the barbecue,” he said. “I got invited to the barbecue because those guys knew that I had a drunk aunt that was walking around trying to kiss everybody too.”

How Did Martin Leave a Lasting Impact on the Sports Agency World?

One of his most significant contributions? Mentoring a young Rich Paul. 

After meeting him at the 2011 NBA Draft and reconnecting over steak, Martin encouraged Paul to walk away from CAA. 

“Get out of there,” he told him. Paul eventually launched Klutch Sports Group, changing the game. Martin’s legacy lived on, even if his name stayed out of the credits.

Following the Agency Business, What Are Martin’s Future Career Plans?

Now, Martin’s bringing his real-life hustle to the screen. He's working on the “The Free Agent” series, which dramatizes his decades of navigating deals, dreams and billion dollar pressure. 

“When I first wrote it, I named it free agent, because I'll be your agent for free, but what you're really paying me for is to help you manage your life, right?,” he said. 

The show is set to begin production in 2026 under Hidden Empire Film Group’s banner.

How Does Martin Reflect on His Legacy?

When asked if he wished he had more recognition for his achievements, Martin responded firmly, saying that he’s “held his value."

He recalled an experience with Tupac during their filing of “Above the Rim” as a memory that especially stuck out to him. Following an October 1993 arrest in Atlanta involving an altercation that Shakur had with two off-duty police officers, Martin said Shakur would walk around the streets of Harlem sporting a “THUG LIFE” t-shirt with a priest at his side as a means for protection, something that their co-star Marlon Wayans picked at him for. 

“[Marlon] says, ‘You know what? You need to get rid of the [T-Shirt]. You should be ‘HUG LIFE.’ You need a hug.”

Martin reflects on his career absent of regrets, and with fondness for the one-of-a-kind experiences, achievements and relationships he was able to build.

“I don't do ‘anything.’ I'll do nothing before I do ‘anything.’”