Now that the NBA Finals have completed, there is a quick shift of focus to the NBA Draft and then to what many of you are looking forward to… NBA Summer League.
And rightfully so. This is a key part of the NBA hiring process. Do you have to be at Summer League to get a job or internship in the NBA? No. But will it help? Yes, absolutely.
In what ways will it help you get an Internship / Job?
1. Connections
As I always say, everything in life is about the people you meet along the way. To get a job in the NBA, you have to meet people. One of the most common questions I get is, “Where do I meet people in the NBA?” And this is one of your answers, NBA Summer League. Nearly all NBA personnel are not only in attendance, they are accessible.
For those you have reached out to on LinkedIn, email, had a phone call with, this is your chance to meet in person.
When I was helping hire interns for the Portland Trail Blazers, we’d inevitably have 10-15 people we were looking at going into Summer League. This included those who had sent in resumes, who we had previous phone conversations with, etc. And typically, around 5 of these would be at Summer League. Those at Summer League would each get individual attention for us. Did it disqualify those who did not attend? No, it definitely did not. But in the final 2-3 in the hiring process, all things being equal, a team is likely going to go with the one they met in person over the one they’ve only spoken to on Zoom.
One of the most effect ways I can recommend people making connections before attending NBA Summer League is attending our Summer League Crash Course. It’s designed to help you meet and connect with others before attending, build out your gameplan upon arrival, support you in logistics, and give you the opportunity to go through mock interviews. I can’t recommend it enough. Use promo: SUMMERLEAGUE for $10 off
2. Meet Other People Like You
This is both a build on of connections and our SL Course. Nearly everyone at Summer League is looking to either get a job in the NBA or move up the ladder. This can create a scarcity mindset and isolation. Those I have seen who are most successful operate on an abundance mindset. They are there for themselves but also there to support others. People tend to just want to network vertically but networking horizontally with your peers typically leads to more opportunities than the vertical networks.
Spend time at Summer League building relationships and connections with like-minded hoopers. Watch games together, share notes, meet people together. I can guarantee that this will create a more fulfilling experience at Summer League.
3. Classes
I get asked a lot about various classes at Summer League. There are a wide array of opportunities. For me, it is always about counting the cost.
