“If you can’t handle it, it’s not a spot for you.”
The quote rests prominently on the website of RBA Sports, a rising basketball agency founded by NBA agent BJ Bass.
Bass, a longtime basketball fan who resides in Roslyn, New York, grew up idolizing the sport. He played NBA mock drafts with his friends in high school, scouting college players with pure love for the game. It was just for fun.
“This was everything for me growing up,” Bass told Def Pen Hoops. “It’s really what kept me cool. When things weren’t great for me as a young kid, this was something that balanced it out. It’s something I’ve had a deep love and passion for since I was eight years old.”
Fast forward to 2010, when Bass received a phone call, and no longer was it just for fun: It became a business, and it took over the day-to-day activities of his daily life.
News quickly spread of how Bass helped unheralded high school senior George Beamon that year, who grew up in his hometown. Bass called every contact in his phonebook to help Beamon, generating workouts and legitimate interest in the 18-year-old to help him obtain a basketball scholarship with Manhattan.
“That was the genesis of everything. I fell in love with the process of helping this kid,” Bass said. “It wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about anything else. I wasn’t an agent. It’s just, when George got that scholarship, I was like: ‘Man. I really just changed the course of a kid’s life.’ And I say that with all humility — it’s a big thing.”
The impressive story caught the eyes of Bass’ high-school friend, who approached him to see if he’d be interested in making this a serious business. Brian’s father Barry had just bought a stake in Basketball City, a popular state-of-the-art facility that houses seven indoor courts, first-class locker rooms and a 15,000-square-foot deck overlooking downtown Manhattan.
And thus started the traditional RBA Showcase, an annual Basketball City event where RBA players compete against each other in scrimmages and drills, showcasing their talents in front of an array of scouts, executives and media personnel. The 2018 RBA Showcase was held Thursday night, with players such as Maine Red Claws guard Daniel Dixon, Greensboro Swarm forward Luke Petrasek and Hapoel Eilat (of the Israeli Premier League) forward Eric Griffin in attendance.
Several RBA players have NBA G League experience, some have NBA veteran camp or training camp experience, but each of them have one thing in common: Respect. They have respect for themselves, respect for their peers, and most importantly, respect for the game.
“We’re not going after lottery picks. We’re going to grow this thing organically,” Bass said, explaining his mindset behind the agency. “We’re going to find guys that we believe should be in the mix and elevate them.
“These guys are just such great guys. They’re great people. And it just makes it so much more rewarding to see these guys do well.”
RBA Sports has a unique strategy of building in the NBA’s G League. They elevate their players through the ranks, which could eventually lead to big league opportunities. Over 10 RBA players have signed NBA contracts, with dozens of others signing in the G League or overseas following the RBA Showcase.
“There’s probably a Robert Covington in the G League right now, and we know about him — but we haven’t given him a chance,” former scout Scott McGuire told Def Pen Hoops, explaining how building an agency through the G League could be beneficial for RBA Sports. McGuire was a scout with the New York Knicks for 25 years.
The NBA’s minor league has several talented players waiting for an opportunity, with players such as Clint Capela, Hassan Whiteside and Danny Green having had unforeseen success stories in the league.
Daniel Dixon and Luke Petrasek, in addition to Rio Grande Valley Vipers guard Julien Lewis and Reno Big Horns guard Michael Bethea Jr., played alongside other former G League and Summer League talent at the RBA Showcase Thursday.
All 24 players showcased their skills in three separate scrimmages. Before the scrimmages began, each of the players used various Sports Science Lab technology gadgets — the reaction time training drill, sensory motor skills assessment drill and counter jump movement assessment drill being among them.
Adam Kemp does the reaction time training drill at the @RBAShowcase at @BasketballCity in NYC pic.twitter.com/e0MeAcDP3v
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 14, 2018
Daniel Dixon (@Mr_HeatCheck) does the Sensory Motor Skills assessment drill at the @RBAShowcase at NYC's @BasketballCity ? pic.twitter.com/LAiRRfNFdz
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 14, 2018
Counter jump movement assessment for Michael Bethea Jr at @RBAShowcase pic.twitter.com/bEYxg3dUce
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 15, 2018
However, there was one gifted basketball player absent from Thursday’s event: the late, highly respected and loved Zeke Upshaw. Upshaw, who was an RBA Sports client, tragically passed away in March.
On Saturday, March 24, BJ Bass celebrated his 18-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Lara. After celebrating, he spent his night as most others do, sitting in his den watching NBA G League games on his iPhone (the life of an agent). He hoped to receive positive news about one of his client’s teams, who were fighting for a Playoff berth.
What followed was anything but positive news.
The Grand Rapids Drive were playing with their season on the line, and in the game was 26-year-old Zeke Upshaw. Upshaw came around a screen late in the game and suddenly collapsed. It sent the entire arena into a moment of shock.
“I knew right away,” Bass said. “From watching on an iPhone, I knew right away. And I said to Lara, my wife, you know. He’s gone. It was just a question of whether they were going to revive him. It’s something we’re all still in shock about.”
Upshaw passed away two days later. In the days that followed, thousands used social media to express their condolences and remember someone who was filled with laughter, kindness and positivity. For Upshaw wasn’t just a good basketball player, he was an all-around good person, and he left a lasting impact on people of all ages during his short time on Earth.
“Zeke was so amazing,” Bass said. “He was playing so well. Last year he finished in the G League in and out of the rotation. He didn’t finish as strong as he could have. And this year we talked so much about running through the finish line. We talked about that all the time.
“He left an incredible legacy. He really touched everybody that he came into contact with.”
Upshaw inspired those around him to be better, both on the hardwood and off. He participated in several community events and bringing joy and smiles to the faces of kids. He was the perfect representation of an RBA Sports player: full of respect, humbleness and gratitude.
And his legacy was honored Thursday night at the agency’s showcase, with not one unhappy camper in the building. The generosity in the air was palpable throughout the event, and RBA Sports wouldn’t have it any other way.
“BJ Bass is great,” McGuire said. “He finds great kids that need help, kids that need exposure, and he’s done a great job with them.”
And for RBA Sports, the pathway to success has just begun — with the annual RBA Showcase helping lead the way.
