Just another day in the “office” for Jessica Holtz—on set at a Nike photoshoot in the Arizona desert with her client, Devin Booker.
The powerhouse agent, wife, and mom is the force behind some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including our very own #1. But this time, she’s sharing her story.
Apprehensive about being our May cover, Jess stepped out of her comfort zone for a why that mattered, letting us spotlight the fierce, fearless woman helping run Devin’s incredible ship.
But the bigger story? The unshakable bond between Jess and Booker. His willingness to jump in for the cover shoot wasn’t just for the camera—it reflected their decade-long partnership built on trust, loyalty, and respect.
She and PVCL’s Nadine Bubeck sat down to dive into Jess’s journey—one that will leave you inspired and give you a deeper look at the woman behind the business… and the relationship behind the photo.
Where did you grow up and what were your aspirations?
I grew up in New Jersey, attended Penn State, and majored in Broadcast Journalism, aiming to be a sports reporter. But once I tried it, I didn’t love it, so I pivoted—landing an internship at the NBA League office, behind the camera.
You're the oldest of three girls. Did you grow up as a sports fan?
My dad is a die-hard Knicks/Jets/Mets/Rangers fan. So, to spend time with my dad, you had to spend time with all those teams
Growing up, my favorite player was Patrick Ewing.
My dad and I are very close and as a fan, he still is in awe that I represent Karl-Anthony Towns on the New York Knicks… it's unbelievably full circle.
Did you play sports yourself?
I played basketball and soccer through eighth grade and tennis in high school. I love competition and always loved what team sports did to enrich me.
What was the transition between your NBA internship and your first full-time job?
I gained so much from my NBA internship and was eager to return. When a role opened in player marketing, I jumped at it. I didn’t envision a marketing career, but it had all of the traits of what I wanted in a job. My day-to-day was booking appearances, securing marketing deals, handling PR, and managing community events for former and current players.
At 22, I was looking after NBA greats that I had watched growing up.
Were you starstruck?
I was, but I wasn’t. Obviously, the gravity of who they were was not lost on me, but I very quickly realized that they were people albeit quite successful, famous ones.
Were you one of the only women on staff?
I've been the only female in the room a lot of times. I did have women there that I looked up to though, some of whom are still there today.
How did you make the transition to becoming an agent?
I’d maximized my role at the League office and craved something more entrepreneurial. My hard work paid off when both Excel Sports Management and CAA pursued me, seeing my potential on the player side of the business.
What does a sports agent do?
I oversee everything for my clients—from managing their careers and contracts to endorsements and business ventures—allowing them to focus solely on basketball. If they have a dream, I’ll do anything in my power to make it happen.
My day consists of phone calls, meetings and travel. I’ll do whatever is needed to do to build successful businesses.
What was your role when you joined CAA?
When I got to CAA, my job was a marketing agent. Immediately, I was assigned to NBA All-Stars including Chris Paul who is super marketable and incredibly talented.
My job was to work on off-court deals—trading card deals, TV commercials, appearances, etc.
I love people—who they are, what drives them, and what they need. I meet people where they are, take time to understand their story, and find meaningful ways to support them.
How did Devin Booker become your client?
I wasn’t initially assigned to Devin. However, Devin noticed how I worked with other clients in their draft class, and he decided that we would work well together.
I put everything into my job because I genuinely care about my clients; their happiness and career success are my focus, and I work hard to earn their trust.
From day one, I knew Devin was different. He is mature beyond his years and his emotional intelligence is off the charts.
What was your long-term vision for Devin?
I knew he was going to make an impact on PHX forever. He is the Suns all-time leading scorer and a formative figure. He is a beloved legend to the city.
Everything changed in 2020, right?
In 2020, when Leon Rose, my partner at CAA, left to become the President of the New York Knicks, yes, everything changed.
At that point, Leon and I had been working with Karl and Devin for five years. In consultation with each of them separately, the conclusion was that I needed to get certified to be an NBA-licensed agent.
To negotiate with an NBA team, you must be licensed, and it was not an easy test. It takes tons of preparation and a high level of basketball acumen. I’m incredibly proud that I passed the test while eight months pregnant.
You're a businesswoman and love your work. But you're also a wife and woman who wanted a baby.
I thought to myself when and where does this fit in and how do I pursue my dreams. I figured it out because it’s something I really wanted.
So, eight months pregnant, you became a certified agent?
Yes. I was already acting as one, but it became official, allowing me to negotiate their contracts, those monumental supermax extensions.
Who do you currently represent?
Right now, my roster consists of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns, Elena Delle Donne, and Alysha Clark.
I started working with WNBA players because I’m passionate about empowering women. I felt like I could take some of the wealth of what I learned in the men’s game and share it in the women’s game. That is incredibly fulfilling.
Do you consider yourself a woman in a man’s business?
Yes. People ask about the challenges, but I focus on the advantages. I can talk to my clients in a different way than they might speak to a male agent. I have empathy in a different way. I think being a mother also helps me.
Every now and then, I get a cold splash of water in my face reminding me that I am a woman in a “perceived” man's world, in their minds… and that some people don’t initially take me seriously. However, my clients are immensely empowering.
I have immense responsibility to my clients, and I am always thinking strategically and am very aware in business the cards are often stacked against women.
Not a lot of people could do your job successfully. What do you think makes an ideal agent?
Male or female, you must be focused, strong and determined., The players I work with are human, and I'm human, and we talk on that most basic level, which is why we work well together.
Some agents and their clients can be very transactional. That is not our story, and it will never be that story with my clients.
Why do you think your clients are the right fit for you?
My clients are unique and without generalizing, there are common threads with each of them. They understand that while it's business, it's also about relationships—working with people who genuinely care, invest in you, and in turn, you invest in them. That mutual commitment makes the journey incredibly meaningful and fulfilling.
Let’s go back a little—because you have this powerhouse job, and then you have a baby. How did you do it?
Help—and I’m not afraid to ask for it; in fact, asking for help is a sign of strength.
My husband who I met in college is a great husband and father. He is incredibly supportive. I have full-time help, and my daughter’s school is exceptional. There’s no such thing as perfect work-life balance, and I don’t try to do it all alone.
When Reese was a baby, was it hard leaving her for work trips?
The very first time I left her, I was going to a meeting with Devin in Cleveland, which I wanted to go to even though I cried all the way to the airport and all the way to the hotel. When I got to the meeting, however, my mood immediately changed because I love my job, and I knew I was there for a really good reason.
I realized it was all okay and Reese was okay.
I said to myself, I can do this. I can be a great mom, and I can be a great agent. I can be great at both!
It takes a while, though. And you beat yourself up when you miss things. Even if it’s a little a funny giggle.
Being a working mom is about making little choices every day and those little choices help shape who you are becoming.
At what point did you move to Arizona?
My clients were all in the Western Conference, and I was constantly flying across the country. I wanted to show up at home with my family in the best way possible, and coming home from a red-eye I was always tired or the feeling you have when you are gone for days just wasn’t working for me. A New York apartment was not spacious enough and we needed more space for ourselves and especially for Reese. Growing up with a backyard, and all the freedoms you have with a child outside of the city, is how we wanted Reese to grow up.
Reese is growing up watching you wear a lot of hats.
She doesn’t think of mommy’s and daddy’s jobs any differently. She gets annoyed when I leave sometimes, but she also gets to do cool things thanks to my work. Her Uncles and Aunts- who she gets to watch night in and night out in the NBA- are her favorite people.
Was it a hard decision to move out here?
We miss our family on the East Coast, but our families love coming here and getting some sunshine. We have a sense of family here; Devin’s network, my professional network, and a lot of wonderful friends we’ve made.
You and Devin seem to have a unique bond.
I consider Devin family, and we have known one another over ten years. We root for each other’s success always.
Many in the Valley would say that Devin is part of their family. What does it mean to you when you see kids wearing his jersey and swooning over his every move?
I love how the people here love and appreciate Devin because he’s insanely good at basketball, and an amazing person with a lot to offer his community, his friends, and his family. He’s beyond generous with his time and his energy.
Your job feels normal to you, but it’s not normal to most people.
I don’t realize that until I take a moment to reflect—like when kids meet Devin and say it’s the best day of their life.
I try to understand that, and I have moments where it really sinks in.
Can you give an example?
At NBA All-Star game, Uncle Karl was signing autographs, and Reese was watching it all unfold. I could see her wheels turning and processing the long lines of fans waiting for a signature.
She asked if she could get something signed, which is funny because, despite how close we are, she’s never had anything autographed by him or any of my clients.
She was too nervous to stand in line, so I had to do it for her. Watching it all happen was an interesting moment for me—a reminder of how much Karl means to many people.
Does that perspective shift how you view your job?
It’s my job, and I view it as normal, but the stories we tell are important to people.
Part of my advantage is that I don’t view it as something extraordinary. But it is.
There will be moments when I will take a step back and think about it all and what it all means….
Why do you think your clients have stuck with you all this time?
I care. It’s simple. There are a lot of agents. There are a lot of people you pass through.
They want to be successful, and I want them to be successful. But most of all, I care about my clients as people who are human beings, first and foremost. And that, I think, is my differentiating factor.
When your clients are playing against each other, who do you root for?
Everybody to have a good game.
Do you ever wear their jerseys?
No jerseys. No affiliation.
Are you the loud, cheering type?
When the Suns lost in the Finals—I felt it with Phoenix. The plane ride home… I was in shambles. Plus, it was Chris and Devin, and it broke my heart because I wanted success so badly for them.
I’m involved, but way more even keeled than a normal fan because this is a business.
What’s your favorite memory with Devin?
He’d always wanted to be on the cover of NBA 2K, and I happened to be traveling to Arizona for business (before I moved here) and I got the call that he finally landed the cover of NBA2K23, and I was so excited.
He was still at practice, and I was at his house waiting hardly able to contain myself… counting down the minutes waiting to share the good news.
It was a dream come true for him, and when I told him, he was totally in shock, called his mom, and then we popped champagne to celebrate.
That moment sticks with me vividly.
What other magic have you made happen? Like, all those shoe deals…
It takes a team to make things happen, and while I sometimes lead the charge, other times I step back. CAA has an incredible infrastructure, and my team helps make it all possible.
We were lucky to piggyback the Nike photoshoot and grab some shots of you and Devin for the magazine. Was bringing this vision to life exactly how you imagined?
Devin, as you know, has a deep passion for vintage cars —he knows every detail and story behind each car. We decided we wanted to merge that love with his signature Nike shoe line, telling the story of his cars through his shoes. It all worked beautifully against the desert backdrop.
Pairing Nike and Chevy was a natural fit. The partnership is perfect—Devin drives only American cars, and his shoes reflect that. The materials, details, and logos all match, and we can’t wait for people to see it.
Devin is incredibly meticulous about storytelling through his shoes—every element is intentional.
Do you wear Booker shoes all the time?
Always. For this shoot, I picked my outfit first then went into my closet to pair my Books. For this shoot in the desert, I felt like Mowabbs were right.
What does the shoe phenomenon mean to you? Everyone wants them.
What’s cool about Devin being a Nike signature shoe athlete is that there are only five in the NBA… Nike is very selective.
They wanted Devin for his play, his style and for who he is.
It was a big accomplishment. When we found out that he was getting a signature shoe, that was another big day for us. Another dream come true.
Devin doesn’t do many local magazine covers—how did it feel knowing he was so willing to do this with you?
His support means a great deal. I didn’t want to ask but I knew he’d say yes—he’s backed me since day one.
He’s always championed women’s empowerment. His mom and his sister are his “why”.
How did you feel posing with him for the cover?
It was very cool to reflect on all the amazing things we've done and how we have grown together. Ten years is a long time. He’s done so much in his career, and I am proud to say we have done it together. That’s special.
Was the Olympics surreal?
It was a special moment on a professional level as I had never been to the Olympics. Seeing one of my clients play on such a global stage made me so proud. And now living here, I see how much Devin being on Team USA meant to this community.
Are you proud of yourself and all you’ve accomplished?
I am trying to be someone my daughter can look up to, and one day, I know she’ll understand all of this.
It’s a hard question to answer—but am I proud of myself? Yes, and I hope Reese will be proud of me. That is the best way to answer this question.
What’s date night like for you and your husband Jeff?
If we’re not at The Global Ambassador, we’re home watching NBA or WNBA games on multiple screens.
How would you describe yourself as a mom?
I’m a hands-on mom who values experiences over expectations. I want my daughter to explore, be curious, and find her own way—I’m just here to guide her. I try to strike a balance between enriching her life and not over-giving… though it’s hard because she’s really cute.
With the high stakes of your job, do you ever get nervous?
I was more nervous to do this cover photoshoot, but I agreed to do it because the why made sense to me. The why is telling an authentic story about women in business, and a woman here in the Valley that people don’t know.
I’m in a new place and sharing my story to this community that I now call home could be inspirational. I owe that to young, aspiring businesswomen to dream bigger.
What’s on your playlist?
80s rock and Fleetwood Mac. Most recently introduced Karl and his girlfriend Jordyn Woods to the magic of Stevie Nicks, too.
Is there anything else you want to add?
Moving here without family, we were met with such warmth—it instantly felt like home.
Dropping my daughter off at school for the first time in a new place was one of the hardest days of my life, but the kindness of fellow parents made all the difference. This community is full of amazing people who genuinely want to help and see you succeed.
In New York, you barely know your neighbors. Here, ambition and support go hand in hand. Life is easier. I even notice the little things—like a smiley face hand drawn on my Press coffee.
A message I want to pass onto my daughter?
Be good and kind. Appreciate people. Work hard, play hard.
IG @jessholtzsteinberg