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Lakers point guards Jose Calderon and Marcelo Huertas will be the team’s only representatives at the 2016 Olympics in Rio

Eyes were transfixed on Las Vegas just a few weeks ago to watch three young Los Angeles Lakers players in D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle practice with USA Basketball as part of the USA Select Team. Obviously the experience alone was great for the young players, but it was also wonderful to hear how complimentary some of the great coaches and players in the league were about the trio.

However, none of those players will be traveling to Rio for the 2016 Olympics to play with USA Basketball throughout August. Especially with Kobe Bryant now retired, there are now no representatives for the Lakers on Team USA.

That doesn’t mean that there won’t be Lakers players taking part in the festivities in Rio, though.

Two Lakers point guards will be playing in the Olympics as recently acquired veteran Jose Calderon will play for Spain and second-year fan-favorite Marcelo Huertas will wear the colors of the host nation of Brazil.

Both Calderon and Huertas have been staples for their respective national teams for quite some time now as both guys are in their 30s. Even still, there will be things to look for from both players as they take the international stage.

On the part of Calderon, the Lakers can be watching to see just what he has left in the tank. Last year with the New York Knicks, Calderon’s performance was troublesome to say the least to the point that he was virtually nixed from the rotation. However, the Olympics will give him the opportunity to show he’s got something left in the tank.

For Huertas, what will be interesting to watch for is what his one-year in the NBA and with the Lakers taught him and how he applies it to playing with Brazil. Though deficient in some areas, there’s no denying that he showed growth as a rookie and it’ll be interesting to see how he applies it to his game.

Hopefully there will be more Lakers involved overall come the 2020 Olympics, especially with Team USA (and with Croatia for Ivica Zubac), but it’s nice to at least have some piece of the pie with international ball taking over the summer.

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Over the past few years, Silicon Beach has emerged as one of the largest tech hubs in the world with companies like Snapchat, Google and YouTube setting up shop along the sun-filled coast. With a surge in growth to the region, it’s no surprise that developers have taken interest in the community and surrounding areas, and 5940 W. 77th Place is one of the neighborhood’s newest additions. The contemporary estate was developed by two brothers from G&D Realty Group and sits in the Westchester neighborhood adjacent to Silicon Beach.

The Agency sat down with Sam Gorodistian to discuss inspiration behind the dwelling’s impressive design that the brother duo claim to be a home built with “no excuses.”

What inspired the design of your project on 77th?

On my side I always view design as if I’m a buyer going to see a house hoping that I will not have even one bad remark about it. For this project I made sure to balance the rooms in size and took in account the flow of the rooms. I love the open space and the indoor-outdoor feel, which I experimented with on my own home after remodeling it in 2013. I also kept in mind general trends of what’s selling in the current market and what the public likes. My brother’s contribution to the design comes from his experience in the construction industry and remodeling homes on the East Coast, where he insists on 10-foot ceilings and tall windows.

Did the explosion of activity in the Silicon Beach area motivate your decision to build there?

It was a combination of that and the fact that the prices were still low in that area, but on the rise; the close proximity to the beach and LAX; and the big lots for a backyard.

When designing the home on 77th, what elements and finishes did you use to complement the contemporary design?

The contemporary design was about simplicity and clean lines, colors and the materials we used. On the design side we incorporated clean, straight lines throughout the house.  For colors we went with two paint colors in the house: white and gray. We incorporated black with silver stainless steel appliances and plumbing fixtures. The counters are a more earthy, natural color. For materials we used a modern look on plumbing fixtures, appliances, frameless shower doors and stair railings, and recessed lights.

What’s your vision for L.A.’s architectural blueprint look like ten years from now?

I think I already see it out there when I’m driving in the streets of Venice, Santa Monica, Westchester and other cities in L.A. Old homes are transitioning to a more modern look and old, industrial buildings are stripped from their traditional elements and using more simple, green and contemporary materials and design.

Do you have any goals as developers that you both hope to achieve in the next five years?

We would like to be landlords of a few multi-family assets either by acquiring multi-family fixer-uppers or developing new buildings from the ground up.

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Compass has announced that the technology-driven real estate firm will be delivering the winning punch to sports and entertainment professionals through its newly formed Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division, headed by Kofi Nartey out of the Beverly Hills office.

“Owning a professional basketball team gave me unique insights into their career-driven lifestyles,” said Compass Founder and Executive Chairman Ori Allon, who owns Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team with NBA star Amare Stoudemire. “They may wake up one day in one city, only to learn they need to quickly move to another city with their entire family. A well-informed agent can be a huge time and energy saver so they can focus on being their best.”

Nartey, former manager of the Sports & Entertainment division at The Agency, boasts numerous high-profile clients, including Michael Jordan.

He appears regularly on HGTV’s Selling LA and he is the author of the upcoming book, Sellebrity: Breaking Into And Servicing The Sports & Entertainment Niche.

Compass, which opened in 2013, already has offices in Washington, D.C., Miami, Boston, the Hamptons, Los Angeles and Aspen, boasting a streamlined technology that empowers the consumer and the agent in facilitating faster and smarter transactions.

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Luxury tech-driven real estate platform Compass will launch an international sports and entertainment division, the company announced today. Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division will focus on the specialized needs of professional athletes and entertainers in an increasingly connected global market through a custom high-tech and high-touch approach.

The division was inspired in part by Compass Founder and Executive Chairman Ori Allon, who owns Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team alongside NBA star Amare Stoudemire. “Owning a professional basketball team and working closely with the players gave me unique insights into their career-driven lifestyles. They may wake up one day in one city, only to learn they need to quickly move to another city with their entire family,” said Allon. “A well-informed agent who really understands their situation can be a huge time and energy saver for them – so they can focus on being their best.”

Top agent Kofi Nartey has been tapped by Compass to play an integral role in creating the first true national network of offices and agents to assist this clientele. As the former Managing Director of the Sports & Entertainment division at The Agency, Kofi brings more than 13 years of industry-leading experience to the company, having worked with numerous high-profile clients including Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, Iggy Azalea, Derek Fisher, and Michael Jordan. Kofi says he looks forward to taking the successful model he built at his previous firm, and expanding it through Compass’ national platform.

“Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division will serve a very important niche market that is equal parts real estate and concierge services. Sports stars and entertainers often find themselves having to shift life and career plans in a moment’s notice, and with Kofi’s expertise, Compass is prepared to seamlessly guide them through any stage in their journeys whether in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Washington DC, or beyond,” said Robert Reffkin, Compass Founder and CEO.

Although Compass launched just two years ago, the company already has an established presence amongst celebrities and pro-athletes including legendary golfer Greg Norman, who recently listed his $55 million Colorado ranch with Compass broker Steven Shane.

Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division will be comprised of select Compass agents in key markets across the country. The proprietary Compass Global network offers celebrities, professional athletes, and their agents instantaneous and discreet access to thousands of ultra high net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), developers, and top real estate professionals across six continents. Beyond traditional real estate services, Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division caters to the ever-changing schedules of pro-athletes and entertainers, and can assist them in finding interior designers, architects, and moving companies, as well as more detailed programs such as personal chefs and private car services.

“I am extremely excited to join the fastest growing luxury real estate firm in the country. Compass’ national reach, cutting-edge technology, and dynamic agents are poised to change the industry. Having the opportunity to help launch the first true national sports and entertainment division was one I could not pass up,” added Kofi. A former football player at the University of California at Berkeley, Kofi has also appeared in several films, and is regularly a featured agent on HGTV’s Selling LA. He is also the author of the upcoming book, “Sellebrity: Breaking into and servicing the Sports & Entertainment Niche.”

Launched in 2013, Compass was founded by Reffkin, a former Chief of Staff to Goldman Sachs’ President & COO, and his business partner Ori Allon, who sold two previous companies to Google and Twitter. The Company began its national expansion last year, opening offices in Washington, D.C., Miami, Boston, the Hamptons, Los Angeles, and Aspen. The company’s proprietary technology brings actionable intelligence and transparency to real estate, empowering both the consumer and the agent to make decisions smarter and faster. Compass continues to create tools within a mobile workspace that saves agents and clients hours of time by reducing reliance on multiple platforms, bringing greater efficiency to the process of finding a home.

Compass has raised $135 million in investor funding, more than any other residential brokerage in the country, from key investors including Institutional Venture Partners, Thrive Capital, Founders Fund, 406 Ventures, Advance Publications, Inc., Kenneth Chenault, CEO of American Express and Marc Benioff, Founder and CEO of Salesforce.com.

**** About Compass:

Compass is a technology-driven real estate platform dedicated to creating a seamless and intelligent home buying, selling, and renting experience. Combining the country’s top agents, proprietary market insights, and integrated mobile and web technologies, Compass is developing the future of real estate decision-making. Compass has locations in New York City, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Washington DC, Boston, Miami, the Hamptons, and Aspen, and has raised $135 million in investor capital. For more information on Compass, and to view more than $5 billion in exclusive Compass properties, visit http://www.compass.com

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Compass announced that it will be adding an international sports and entertainment division called Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division.

According to the press release, it will  “focus on the specialized needs of professional athletes and entertainers in an increasingly connected global market through a custom high-tech and high-touch approach.”

Select Compass agents in key national markets will comprise the new division.

“The proprietary Compass Global network offers celebrities, professional athletes and their agents instantaneous and discreet access to thousands of ultra high net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), developers and top real estate professionals across six continents.”

Aside from regular real estate services, the division will cater to the “ever-changing schedules of pro-athletes and entertainers and can assist them in finding interior designers, architects and moving companies, as well as more detailed programs such as personal chefs and private car services.”

The division was partially inspired by Compass co-founder and executive chairman Ori Allon, who owns Isreal’s Hapoel Jerusalem basktball team with NBA star Amare Stoudemire.

“Owning a professional basketball team and working closely with the players gave me unique insights into their career-driven lifestyles. They may wake up one day in one city, only to learn they need to quickly move to another city with their entire family,” Allon said in the press release. “A well-informed agent who really understands their situation can be a huge time and energy saver for them — so they can focus on being their best.”

Kofi Nartey will play an integral role in the division, and coming from The Agency, where Nartey managed a similar division with clients including Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, Iggy Azalea, Derek Fisher and Michael Jordan — he seems like a natural, well-equipped choice.

He also has an upcoming book, “Sellebrity: Breaking into and servicing the Sports & Entertainment Niche.” Nartey is a former football player at the University of California at Berkeley. You might also recognize him from several films or his regular appearances on HGTV’s “Selling LA.”

“Compass Global Sports & Entertainment Division will serve a very important niche market that is equal parts real estate and concierge services. Sports stars and entertainers often find themselves having to shift life and career plans in a moment’s notice, and with Kofi’s [Nartey] expertise, Compass is prepared to seamlessly guide them through any stage in their journeys whether in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Washington, D.C., or beyond,” Compass co-founder and CEO, Robert Reffkin, said in the press release.

In creating this sports and entertainment division, Compass joins the ranks of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, The Agency and Antigen Realty — to name a few.

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Home of the Day: Wide open spaces in Westchester

This open-concept contemporary in Westchester is designed with a crisp modern interior that invites in natural light while affording plenty of wall space for art. Glass pocket doors retract for seamless indoor-outdoor living, connecting a gourmet kitchen and two-story great room to an outdoor teak wood deck.

Address: 5940 W. 77th Place, Westchester, 90045

Price: $2.35 million

Built: 2016

Lot size: 7,800 square feet

House size: 3,524 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms

Features: Hardwood floors; glass pocket doors; vaulted ceilings; gourmet kitchen; wine fridge; staircase with glass balustrades; sculptural soaking tub; 1,800-square-foot backyard with Brazilian teak wood deck, built-in seating, fire pit, grill and outdoor fridge

About the area: The median sale price for single-family homes in the 90045 ZIP Code in April was $952,000 based on 26 sales, according to CoreLogic. That was a 4.4% increase in median price compared with April 2015.

Agents: Jackie Smith and Kofi Nartey, the Agency

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A Cape Cod charmer in Manhattan Beach

Casual California elegance meets traditional East Coast charm at this two-story, found just blocks from the sand in Manhattan Beach. Designed by architect Louie Tomaro, with landscaping by Scott Martin, the home offers a classic look with front-facing gables, a covered entry and a white picket fence. Inside, sunlit spaces feature a chef’s kitchen and formal living and dining rooms that open onto a patio with saltwater pool.

Address: 1200 10th St., Manhattan Beach, 90266

Price: $4.150 million

Built: 2013

Lot size: 7,467 square feet

House size: 4,600 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms

Features: Open-space floor plan; recessed lighting; walnut hardwood floors; two-story vaulted entryway; chef’s kitchen Calcutta gold marble island, double Wolf ovens, Sub-Zero fridge and freezer, six-burner stove with griddle; retractable glass pocket doors; upstairs master retreat with sitting area; indoor and outdoor fireplaces, two patios, fire pit; fireplace; saltwater swimming pool and spa; retractable patio awning

About the area: The median sale price for single-family homes in the 90266 ZIP Code in April was $2.4 million, based on 29 sales, according to CoreLogic. That was a 34.8% increase in median price compared with April 2015.

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Most people dream of disrupting industries. Mauricio Umansky and The Agency have successfully done it.

Richard Branson changed the entire airline industry with Virgin Airlines. He did what every other airline did, fly people from point A to point B. But he changed the experience for the consumer and the culture of the company. He changed the lighting, the mood, the safety video, basically everything he could do within the airline experience. This increased customer satisfaction and employee happiness.

The Wall Street Journal named Mauricio Umansky the No. 1 Realtor in California and No. 7 in the United States when he founded The Agency. For the past two years, he has claimed the No. 3 spot in the U.S.

The Agency’s brand is recognized everywhere, from rural America to the middle of China, not only because of its presence in the media, on the internet, and on TV shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, but also because of the success of The Agency’s partnerships, marketing, and events. With only three offices, in Southern California, the firm created a top brand. How did it do it?

The opportunity

A little less than a decade ago, real estate firms hit a point where they became transaction focused–their main goal became the bottom line. Instead of providing top-tier service to the consumer, real estate brokers became sales volume focused.

On top of that, the barrier for entry became so low that all an aspiring agent had to do was take a test. It was as easy as getting a driver’s license. This encouraged a lot of people who weren’t necessarily service oriented to come into the industry. The buyer experience became commoditized.

Management at every single real estate firm started thinking like business people. They would rent a place, add up the expenses and desk fees, and then figure out how much it cost each month to operate. The philosophy changed from scouting out talent to figuring out how many agents would fit into the office. From there, the managers would think, if I hire x amount of agents, I would only need to earn y per agent to break even. They would then charge a fee for the agents (whether trained or not) to make money, but ultimately both the consumer and the agents suffered.

Do things differently

The same way Richard Branson set out to disrupt the airline industry, Mauricio and his partners had goals to disrupt the real estate industry. Mauricio knew he wanted to change how consumers purchase a home.

Here are eight things The Agency did to redefine the real estate industry:

1. Increase the barrier of entry

The Agency isn’t about volume, nor is it about numbers. If you make it into The Agency and are able to wear its hat or pins or “carry The Agency flag,” it means you are someone the firm has chosen to invest in. You don’t have to be the best, but you have to be talented, knowledgeable, and great at what you do.

2. Offer services

Some real estate firms offer 90-10 splits. A few even offer 95, some even as high as 97, and there is speculation of a few groups offering 100 percent payouts. The Agency has a policy of capping its offerings at 80. By paying out anything more than 80, The Agency would not be able to have the services that make the agent better. By offering a lower split, The Agency is able to attract Realtors who understand the team mentality, and that they need tools such as research and marketing collateral and systems to do their jobs better–rather than people who are trying to maximize the deals they have.

3. Use exceptional marketing

The Agency looks for Realtors who are great at sales and account management. It doesn’t need them to be copywriters, graphic designers, or event marketers. By owning an in-house full-spectrum creative agency called The Agency Creative, the firm allows each of its team members to focus on one core duty: to be an adviser who looks out for the client’s best interests.

4. Be an adviser, not an agent

The real estate industry generally has a reputation for being very commission focused. Oftentimes, agents are not perceived to have the consumer’s best interests at heart. At The Agency, the advisers are in it for the long run. They know the market–and if a property is a great deal or bad buy. Plus, they have the research to back their claims. This inside knowledge helps The Agency’s advisers handpick the properties most suitable for their clientele.

5. Define the culture

The Agency stays away from hiring anyone who’s a jerk. When you first start, you have to readDelivering Happiness, Tony Hsieh’s story of how he built Zappos. Once you start working, you can make mistakes. You can be stupid. You can be smart. But you can’t be a jerk. If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t move forward and grow. Mauricio understands that people can’t work all the time, so the firm makes a point of having fun. Otherwise, why spend so much time working? The Agency’s philosophy is to keep everything simple, from its systems to its self-made CRMs to its message.

6. Be transparent

Mauricio loves competition, and he wants to make the industry better. He feels that if other people elevate, he will too. He knows people copy him, and he thinks that’s OK. Mauricio is excited to have been able to make such an impact on the real estate industry–and plans to continue to have the industry progress.

7. Run your company like a tech company

Tech companies work in open floor environments and are known for splitting equity with their key partners. The Agency runs the same way. Mauricio’s office is always open, his best advisers staff the biggest offices, and most advisers work on an open floor plan. When an office finds a talented individual who has made a name for him- or herself, it offers up equity into the parent company. This gives partners mutual interest in making the overall company succeed.

8. Partner with successful people

The Agency is growing, with goals to open another six offices this year and 12 more across the country by the end of 2017. The firm plans to do this by partnering with real estate agents and brokers who have cultivated success in their home market, whether it be Austin or Denver. If you have had success with your real estate career, then The Agency wants to hear from you.

By Leah Kouba

1. What do you love/miss most about playing in the NBA? I miss the competition the most.

2. Which NBA player, former or current do you admire the most? There are a lot of players that I admire.  I played with and against some of the greatest players from 1999-2010 including Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson and Mike Bibby to name a few.

3. What is your favorite restaurant in Los Angeles? I love Katana and Boa.

4. Most families/friends hang out around the kitchen.  What dish would Kenny Thomas make to keep them there? I would get on the grill for them.

5. What is your dream vacation destination? I’m retired now so I plan on doing a lot of traveling. I was a military kid and lived in Germany for a while.  I also played on the USA basketball team when I was in college and went to Italy to play. I’m just getting started with traveling so I’ll let you know what my dream vacation destination is after I visit a couple of spots!

6. What would your dream home consist of? My dream home is going to be crazy, I don’t even know how to explain it.

7. Any future projects we should know about? I started Kenny Thomas Enterprises which engages six primary business segments: Healthy Water, Fitness & Lifestyle Apparel, Basketball Education, Community Outreach, Film & Television Production and Real Estate.  Future endeavors for the Sacramento market include a charity golf tournament to help benefit disadvantaged youth and local charities.  The television and film production entity of KTE is currently in the early production stages of their first film venture with details of a feature film to be announced this summer.  KTE has successfully launched Infinity02 – Super Oxygenated Water (www.Infinity02.com) in New Mexico Supermarkets and is expanding in the Sacramento and NorCal region.

By Leah Kouba

1.What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not playing basketball? My favorite thing is playing golf.

2. Of all the cities you have been to, which is your favorite? Rome is my favorite city that I’ve been to so far. That may change this summer as I will be doing some traveling.

3. Most families/friends hang out around the kitchen.  What dish would Ray Allen make to keep them there? I would make popcorn to keep my family and friends gathered.

4. What is your dream vacation destination? My dream vacation is going to Maui.

5. What would your dream home consist of? My dream home has a TV in every room and a big, side couch that I can sleep on. Definitely a waterfront property.

6. Any upcoming projects we should know about? I just opened a restaurant with my wife called “Grown”.

(“Grown” is one of the first ever organic fast food restaurants. Read more about it here: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-first-organic-fast-food-chain-on-the-east-coast-2016-2)

7. What do you love about playing in the NBA? I love the travel in the NBA. Teams are now traveling across the world because the game is global.

8. Who, either former or current NBA player, do you look up to?

Michael Jordan was and still is my model NBA player.  On the court he was the best and off the court he was always a gentleman.