NBA · NFL · NCAA · NIL
Full-service sports representation for NBA, NFL, and NCAA athletes. We don't just open doors — we build careers.
Who We Are
NEXT Sports Agency is a full-service sports representation firm dedicated to protecting, growing, and maximizing the careers of elite athletes — from college to the pros.
We combine legal expertise, marketing strategy, and NIL advisory to give athletes every competitive advantage on and off the field. When you sign with NEXT, you're getting a team fully invested in your success.
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What We Do
End-to-end contract negotiation, draft preparation, and career management for basketball players at every level of the NBA ecosystem.
Contract · Draft · CareerDedicated NFL agent services covering rookie deals, extensions, free agency, and the full spectrum of professional football career management.
Contracts · Free Agency · EndorsementsStrategic brand building, sponsorship acquisition, media relations, and social amplification that turn athletes into marketable personalities.
Brand · Sponsorship · MediaComprehensive Name, Image & Likeness advisory for college athletes — deal structuring, compliance, brand partnerships, and maximizing earning potential.
NIL Deals · Compliance · NCAABacked by a J.D., we bring legal precision to every negotiation — maximizing value, protecting your rights, and securing long-term financial security.
Legal · Value · ProtectionFrom draft prep to post-career planning — performance guidance, financial literacy, and personal brand growth for the whole athlete.
Draft Prep · Finance · LegacyOur Focus
Professional Basketball
From the draft to veteran contracts, we navigate every stage of an NBA career — with Finals access to prove it.
Professional Football
Representing the toughest athletes in the game — from rookie entry to franchise-defining extensions.
College Athletics
Maximizing NIL opportunities while protecting eligibility. Recognized as a top-70 force in the NIL space.
Leadership
"We don't just negotiate contracts — we build the careers and legacies athletes deserve."
Austin Walton has been one of the NBA's most effective negotiators for over a decade. In 2016 he secured Kent Bazemore's 4-year, $70 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks — a deal covered by ESPN and Forbes. Along the way he orchestrated the Under Armour partnership that helped the brand eventually land Steph Curry as a client.
His clients include Bones Hyland, Dean Wade, Aaron Wiggins, Kent Bazemore, Dereon Seabron and Jared Rhoden. In 2025 he negotiated Hyland's two-way deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves — reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. His NIL expertise is recognized by Silver Waves Media as one of the 70 most impactful people in the NIL space.
When Austin is courtside at the NBA Finals, it's not as a spectator — it's as the agent of a champion.
The People
Multi-Disciplinary
NEXT isn't a one-person operation. Behind Austin is a full team of professionals spanning legal, marketing, NIL strategy, athlete relations, and business development.
Every client benefits from the collective expertise of our entire roster, not just a single point of contact. We operate as one unit with one goal: maximizing every opportunity for the athletes we represent.
Start the ConversationIn The Press
Over a decade of deals, draft classes, and client success stories — covered by the biggest names in sports media.
Austin Walton negotiated Kent Bazemore's 4-year, $70 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks — covered by ESPN and Forbes. Walton also orchestrated the Under Armour brand partnership that laid the groundwork for the brand's eventual signing of Steph Curry.
Shams Charania reported Walton negotiated Hyland's two-way deal with Minnesota, reuniting him with the executive who originally drafted him in Denver.
NEXT Sports Agency's 2021 draft class included Bones Hyland, Aaron Wiggins, Micah Potter, and Obadiah Noel — demonstrating a consistent pipeline of top draft talent.
WTOP featured Walton's strategic thinking — including how he engineered the Under Armour deal that helped the brand land Steph Curry. Walton called Bazemore "always the most optimistic person."
An early Business Insider profile on Walton's decision to found Walton Sports Management Group and his values-driven approach to building a sports agency from the ground up.
A behind-the-scenes feature on Hyland's draft journey included Austin Walton, giving a rare look into draft preparation and the agent-client relationship at the highest level.
Austin Walton maintains a Wikipedia profile documenting his career and is listed in the official NBPA Certified Agent Directory — the gold standard for NBA representation.
Get In Touch
Whether you're a college athlete navigating NIL, a prospect preparing for the draft, or a professional looking for better representation — the conversation starts here.
Your message has been received. We aim to respond within 24 hours and look forward to discussing your future.
