Banks (left) with Rodney Stuckey on draft night.
It’s rare sight to see someone living their dream, but for anyone around Eastern Oregon University graduate Steve Banks, they get to witness that happening.
Banks, a graduate from EOU in 1999, just started his own sports agency in his native city of Seattle. At the moment Banks has one client, but it’s not a bad one to have – Rodney Stuckey of the Detroit Pistons. Stuckey graduated from Eastern Washington University where he was honorable mention All-American his freshman and sophomore seasons.
This season in Detroit, Stuckey is having a breakout year in his third season in the league averaging 18 points and 4.6 assists per game. His 2010 salary according to ESPN.com is $1,805,040.
“I’m blessed to have a guy like Rodney right now,” Banks said. “All you need is one to make it work. It’s like the trickle-down effect and right now there are a few other guys interested.”
Before starting Banks Sports Ventures, Banks worked for Goodwin Sports Management. GSM is one of the premier sports management firms, and represents several marquee NBA players. While at GSM, Banks worked alongside a list of NBA players that included Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, and Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks.
“I’ve been to a lot of pretty cool events,” Banks said. “Several All-Star Games, playoff games, and I was there when the Miami Heat won the world championships over the Dallas Mavericks.
“All-Star Games can be fun for fans, but when I was there I was on the clock. I had to make sure Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson was everywhere they were supposed to be, kind of like baby-sitting.”
Banks left Eastern Oregon University with a liberal studies degree. He combined Business and Physical Education during his education at EOU. Banks was recruited by the University of Portland for basketball, while Art Furman was an assistant for the Pilots. When Furman came to Eastern, he got Banks to come to La Grande as well.
“I had a good experience while at Eastern,” Banks said. “I was blessed to be able to play college ball. College basketball is college basketball no matter where it is, and I’m very happy I got to play at EOU. I was never a guy who had big dreams to play in the NBA. I used basketball and college as a tool to get me where I wanted to be.”
While at Eastern Oregon Banks used the student career center to its full potential, and mapped out a plan of what he wanted out of life.
“As corny as it sounds, it was kind of like a Cinderella story,” Banks said. “The director at career services and I made a plan and I followed it to every detail. I was an intern for the Seattle Supersonics after Eastern. I knew that if I was going to be an agent I needed to surround myself around them.
“I happened to meet Gary Payton’s agent, and things got going from there. I became the executive director of the Gary Payton Foundation which provides safe places for recreational activity, and to help underprivileged youth in his hometown of Oakland stay in school.”
After Payton won the NBA Championships with the Miami Heat in 2006, he gave everyone in his staff an NBA champion ring. As a member of his staff, Banks was one of the lucky recipients.
At the small college level, a professional future in athletics is not always concrete for the student athletes. Banks found a way to mold himself while at Eastern Oregon University and has reaped the benefits since.
“It was amazing to work with people like the late Dr. Stenard, Peggy Anderson, and Coach Furman. I had former EOU head coach Ryan Looney and current head coach Isaac Williams for roommates in La Grande. I loved my time at Eastern Oregon. It molded me into the person I am.”