Scottie Pippen's Agent Jimmy Sexton Now Manages Philip Rivers, More NFL Stars
Scottie Pippen was the focus of the second episode of The Last Dance on Sunday, with an overarching talking point being the under-market, seven-year, $18 million contract he signed with the Bulls.
What terrible agent could have allowed Pippen to sign that deal, people wondered. Turns out it was a pretty successful one.
Pippen's agent at the time was Jimmy Sexton, who eventually went on to become one of football's biggest power brokers. Sexton is the co-head of Creative Artists Agency's football division, boasting clients such as Nick Saban, Philip Rivers and Julio Jones, among others.
The deal, while it put Pippen well below market value, was justified by Pippen himself in the doc as a deal that got him out of generational poverty. Pippen's rookie contract was also below market, so guaranteeing himself the $18 million brought financial comfort he never had growing up in Arkansas.
"I do recall it was a longer contract than I thought was smart with him," Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in the documentary. "I said to Scottie the same thing I said to Michael: 'If I were you I wouldn't be signing this deal. You could be selling yourself short. It's too long of a deal.'"
Pippen's frustration with the deal began to boil over late in his Bulls tenure, including him waiting to undergo surgery in 1997 until right before the season began because he didn't want to "f--k my summer up."
He ultimately wound up making up for lost time in the back end of his career, signing a $67.2 million contract with the Houston Rockets in 1998. The Hall of Famer would last only one season in Houston before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent the next four years.
Pippen finished his career with the Chicago Bulls in 2003-04. He made more money at age 38 in that contract than he ever did during his prime with the team.
Sexton remains one of the most powerful agents in the country. At one point, Sexton represented 11 of the SEC's 14 coaches, along with his host of NFL coaches and players. Suffice it to say things worked out for both Pippen and Sexton despite the now-famous deal.
