“He deserves every penny”. ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith and other stars of the NBA fraternity were quick to praise Joel Embiid. This was after Embiid recently signed a whopping 3-year, $193 million extension. By including the player option and the remaining terms of his previous contract, the new contract will keep the Cameroonian with the Philadelphia 76ers till the 2028-29 season. It will also make him extremely rich along the way. After all, when the terms of the contract close, Embiid’s $500M+ career earnings would put him in the same boat as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. While it is the player’s talents that have helped him to get to this point, the huge extension deal may not have been possible without one other individual: his agent.

Having signed the 76ers star back in 2022, Jill Smoller works alongside fellow agent Zack Miller to handle Embiid’s marketing and off-court endeavors. While the player already holds a marketing deal with Under Armour, the duo has gotten some new partners his way, including an agreement with Coke Zero. However, their efforts are not exclusive to Embiid, as Smoller and Miller represent a diverse roster of high-profile clients across various industries. Now, let’s take a closer look at their impressive careers and the wide range of talent they work with.

Who are Jill Smoller and Zack Miller?

Born in 1964, Jill Smoller has had her brush with professional sports as a player. She created an identity for herself as an All-American at the University of Arizona, thanks to her skills on the tennis court. Unfortunately, the injuries she developed brought her professional career to an end before it even began. With her dream of becoming a grand slam doubles champ in her mid-20s having evaporated in the wind, Smoller decided to instead go into sports management.

Over the next few decades, Jill Smoller climbed the ranks from working in the mailroom at ICM to becoming the Senior Vice President at William Morris Endeavor (WME). A former athlete turned agent, she broke new ground by representing high-profile male athletes, one of the few women to do so at such a level. Since 1997, Smoller has worked with NBA legends like Rick Fox and Dennis Rodman. In 2011, she made headlines by negotiating a multimillion-dollar deal between Kevin Garnett and Anta, a brand now associated with stars like Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. This deal reportedly boosted Garnett’s earnings by an additional seven figures annually, supplementing the $2 million a year he was earning from Adidas.

Beyond men’s basketball, Jill Smoller has built an impressive client roster that includes U.S. track star Allyson Felix, WNBA sensation Sabrina Ionescu, and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin. However, none of these names may shine as brightly as Smoller’s most prestigious client: Serena Williams. The tennis icon has praised Smoller, stating, “Jill Smoller goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to being an agent… When I was hospitalized earlier this year, Jill was one of the first people I called. She was there for me throughout that entire ordeal that shook up my life.”

While Smoller’s company has represented global tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in his off-court activities, she has not been directly involved with him. Djokovic’s primary agent, Edoardo Artaldi, has managed his career for over 13 years, handling the bulk of his representation. Smoller’s reach and impact, however, continue to be far-reaching in the sports world.

In the entertainment field, Forbes reported that the 60-year-old was “instrumental” in signing none other than Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, to WME’s client roster last year.

Much like Jill Smoller, Zack Miller started his career humbly in the mailroom, but his journey began at WME in 2016. In just two years, he made an impressive leap to become one of the youngest sports agents in the company’s history. Miller’s client list includes not only NBA star Joel Embiid but also WNBA legend Candace Parker and former NHL player PK Subban. Recently appointed as the head of WME Sports’ women’s basketball division, Miller now collaborates with Smoller to secure major deals for Parker and other clients.

Jill Smoller is often regarded as a trailblazer among women sports agents, balancing professionalism with personal relationships that have earned her high respect. This close bond with clients, such as Serena Williams, who has confided in her during difficult times, sets Smoller apart in an industry where trust is paramount.

“Complete disaster” – Jill Smoller once revealed Serena Williams’ struggles with mental health

Back in October 2023, Jill Smoller sopke during an exclusive segment of ESPN. When discussing the time she and Serena Williams spent together, the agent didn’t hold back in talking about the mental stress that Williams developed over her career.

For many, the goal higher than winning is reaching the expectations you have set for yourself. Serena Williams was among them. Smoller revealed: “I don’t think people look at the amount of pressure that’s been on. I always say Serena uniquely as an athlete is, probably had more individual pressure than anyone who’s played because, for the longest time, anything but her winning wasn’t enough. And even when you look back at four Grand Slam finals, post-baby would be spectacular for anybody, but for her, a complete disaster and how you help people manage the pressure.”

The pressure eventually led to issues that affected the tennis star mentally. Patrick Mouratoglou, her long-time coach, revealed in 2015 how “she was depressed” after missing out on the calendar grand slam in September. “The reaction was quite strong. She was really, really affected, which I think is normal when you are Serena.”

In such moments, it is important to have the support of those who you can turn to anytime. As Serena Williams highlighted above, one of those people was her agent. Hopefully, Jill Smoller highlights the same courtesy and affection in the case of Joel Embiid.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.