Jay-Z is certified to negotiate contracts for NBA, MLB players

Hip-hop superstar Jay-Z has been certified by the National Basketball Players Assn. to represent NBA players in contract negotiations, the rapper’s Roc Nation Sports agency confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Major League Baseball Players Assn. spokesman Greg Bouris told ESPN.com later on Thursday morning that Jay-Z is now licensed to do the same for that league’s players as well.

The NBPA was the first players union to grant Jay-Z his certification, although he may not be able to represent any NBA athletes until he sells his less-than-1% share of the Brooklyn Nets.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is rumored to be in negotiations to become the first NBA star to sign with Roc Nation Sports, which was launched in April with the intent of becoming a full-service sports agency.

Jay-Z said at the time that he would like to become a sports agent himself. At this point the agency’s clients -- which include Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, Geno Smith of the New York Jets and Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock -- are represented by other agents.

Sports Business Daily was the first to break the news that Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports President Juan Perez were certified by the NBPA.

Roc Nation Sports has already gotten on the bad side of the National Football League Players Assn. Smith’s agent, Kim Miale, was scheduled to meet with players union representatives Wednesday to discuss whether the agency broke the so-called runner rule (which states that only certified agents can recruit players) when Smith was photographed in the same room as Jay-Z before his signing.

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