Connecting with Your Peers

Getting a job in the NBA

At our first NBA Draft Course a couple of years ago, Bret Burchard spoke about the importance of connecting with your peers. 

He talked about all of his fellow Video Coordinators who were now Executives and Head Coaches and how oftentimes, the staff is so focused on getting to know the current Execs and Coaches around the League that they neglect the fact that those are going to be their peers in just a few years.

Every once in awhile I will see an old Excel document shared amongst the Video Coordinators when I was in the League and I will see Bret’s name on their and Will Hardy, Amin Elhassen, Nick U’Ren and countless others who’ve become name brands in hoops.

One of the things we encourage in our classes is for students to get to know one another.  It’s often your peers who will lift you up with them and not necessarily the person you’re trying so hard to get a hold of on the phone.

Every year, we have students who reach back out because they have a job opportunity for someone else. 

At our course this past week, Scott Brown spoke to the subject as well.  He was one of our first students and is now working with the Raptors and Raptors 905 in Basketball Operations.

No matter where you are at on your hoops journey, there are peers around you to connect with.  Rather than seeing others as obstacles or those you’re competing against, look to connect and support one another.  The best way to rise is to rise together.