5 Summer (League) Questions Answered
Getting a job in the NBA
Is it too early to look for NBA Internships?
As I’ll always say, the time is now. It’s always now. You can always be gathering information. Every organization is different in their approach and hiring process. But this is the wheelhouse of timeframes when changes are being made. A lot of interviews are happening. And at Summer League, many prospective Interns will be hired. After Summer League, a lot of NBA staff and executives will take a little time off and then the process will kick up again around September as teams finalize any openings.
How often should I follow up with a contact?
This is always a tough question. There is always something keeping NBA people busy. Whether it’s Training Camp, the start of the season, the holidays, the Trade Deadline, the Playoffs, the Draft, Summer League, and then their time off… therefore, you just gotta jump in there sometime and reach out.
If you don’t hear back, don’t feel bad. A lot of e-mails and messages get lost in the shuffle. Reach out again. Now, if you don’t hear back after 2 or 3 messages, it’s probably time to move on.
But once you’ve established a connection, when you reach out to them, ask specific questions. Don’t say, ‘what’s up’ or ‘how’s it going’ or ‘what are you up to this summer.’ Ask them a specific questions such as, ‘What internships are you hiring for?’ ‘When do you start interviews?’ ‘Can I send you my resume?’ Be forward. Teams are hiring. They know you’re interested. They don’t want small chat, so just get to the point. The small chat can take place in the interview process when they are trying to get a feel for who you are.
How do I connect with others at Summer League?
Summer League is one of the best places to connect with NBA personnel. (Don’t forget, if you have to choose when to be there, be there the first week!) If you can’t make it, it doesn’t disqualify you from having a chance to work in the NBA, but it is a bonus to those who can make it. Anytime you can get face time with those who might hire you, it’s a plus (so long as it’s a positive interaction).
This is a great reason to follow up with all of your NBA contacts. I would reach out to each one and try to meet them at Summer League.
Be accepting of whatever time they offer you. They likely are not going to go to a meal or coffee with you. It will likely be 5 minutes or less of time in the hallway between games.
It might even be unlikely anyone will schedule time with you at all. Summer League is a blur and ever-changing. NBA staff don’t want to schedule something when they have their own team to worry about and their own connections they are trying to make. That’s why it’s easiest just to meet others in the halls or hotels.
Speaking of meeting others, do not neglect your peers! Everyone wants to work their way up, but don’t neglect working your way out. A lot of your peers at Summer League will be getting Internships. It’s going to be hard finding a lot of time with those already working in the NBA. But network with those who are in your same shoes.
Should I go to all the conferences?
Pick the ones that are beneficial to you. There are a lot of things you can spend money on. The key isn’t the conference, the key is the people you’ll meet. It’s not the content, it’s the connections. The conferences can open the doors to certain people while giving you a fun experience along the way. That being said, no one hiring in the NBA is checking to see what conferences you went to. It’s not a plus on your resume. It’s neutral. Use them to build relationships but they are not something required to get an NBA internship.
Where do I start, I have so many more questions, please help…
We are really excited to host our Summer League Crash Course again this year. The course will be 2-nights (June 27 and June 28) from 5-7p PT / 8-10p ET via Zoom. All course are recorded for those who can’t make it live. Hosts and speakers will include John Ross (*Trail Blazers), Daniel Marks (*Bucks), Bjorn Zetterberg (*Magic, *Blazers), Mike Visenberg (Pro Insight), Sunny Ahluwalia (*Grizzlies) and more. (*work experience)
*Hear stories and ask questions of NBA personnel who were in your shoes a year or two ago
*Learn from NBA personnel what key factors they look at in deciding who they will meet
*Where do you meet NBA personnel and how do you approach them
And finally, meet others in class who will be at Summer League. And meet myself (John Ross), Bjorn, and Mikey V amongst others who will be at Summer League.
Use Promo Code: SUMMERLEAGUE for $10 off (additional for monthly subscribers below)
We have had multiple students from our courses last year that have landed interviews with NBA teams, roles with G-League teams, and full-time positions with NCAA teams. We hope you are next.