When professional basketball player Donnie McGrath retired from the game, he didn’t stay inactive for long. In 2020, he co-founded LIFT Sports Management, bringing on two-time NBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist Mike Miller as the company’s president. Since its launch, LIFT has scored some big wins for its clients, including Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero, who signed a five-year, $287 million max rookie contract extension this past summer.
McGrath joined the How Success Happens podcast to share his personal and career journey. Check out the episode here and read highlights of the conversation below.
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What’s different about LIFT compared to other management companies?
LIFT is a fast-growing, best-in-class sports agency, representing athletes on and off the court/field, with divisions in both basketball and football. What separates LIFT from other agencies is that it was started by athletes. Mike Miller and I bring over 35 combined years of professional basketball experience to the table. We know what today’s players want and we’re best positioned to deliver.
What inspired you to create this business?
My motivation behind creating LIFT was driven by my experience as a pro athlete and understanding the importance of strategic management, guidance and opportunities. It’s not about just thriving on the court but also building a brand and taking control of their future in the business world. I had always been interested in the agency space and had previous success connecting athletes to business opportunities. My “aha moment” was probably in 2018 as my playing career overseas was coming to an end. It was also coinciding with a crazy NBA free agency frenzy that summer, as I watched some of my best friends sign massive deals. I knew I wanted to work directly with players as my way to stay around the game. With my experience and network, I felt like I could really make a positive impact on athletes’ careers and build a real business around it.
Can you tell us about a setback and how you pushed forward?
Losing two projected lottery picks prior to the 2025 NBA Draft. It’s the nature of the business — a learning experience for us — but losing those two clients hit us hard. Instead of taking a step backwards, it was time to focus on coming back stronger as an agency, and we did. We were able to sign other lottery picks in the same draft year, and so it was rewarding to see Jeremiah Fears and Noa Essengue both go in the Top 12 on draft night. Beyond that, it was more motivation for all our agents and staff at LIFT to continue to build and be resilient as we prepare for next year’s NBA Draft. I feel great about our current client roster and where we are overall.
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