GET IN THE GAME 101 X Arizona State NBA Trade Deadline Competition
Getting a job in the NBA
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in the Arizona State NBA Trade Deadline Competition. It was my 2nd time at the competition and there are always a handful of things that stand out. Here are 3 of them.
1. I Wish There Was Something Like This For Me
Each year, the judges have the same sentiments, “I wish there was something like this for me when I was trying to break into the League.” It’s the importance of human connection and forming your tribe while looking to get your break in the NBA. As I always share, you have to have a skill, and you need to get experience, but then it comes down to relationships. Does someone like you and want to hire you? Putting yourself in environments such as these allows you to build relationships both with NBA personnel and with your peers (just as important!).
2. Enjoy the Journey
One of the best things I heard from students was, “Whether I make it to the NBA or not, this has been awesome!” It’s easy to get caught up in a do or die of making it to the NBA. Some of you will. Some of you won’t. Some of it’s skill and experience. Some of it is luck and timing. One thing you can control though is enjoying the journey.
3. What’s Next?
As you finish college or grad school, a common question is always, “What’s next?” Many students were diving into exactly that. And the answer is up to you. But there is help available. Students shared about how amazed they were that people from the NBA were willing to help them. Most people who landed a role in the NBA had someone help them and most of them are looking to pay it forward. The timeframe you are likely to get the most help and support is when you are in college. If you send a cold e-mail from your personal account, it is unlikely you’ll get a response. Send a message from your .edu account and it is much more likely. People love helping college students, take advantage of that in the timeframe you can. Don’t ask people for jobs… ask them questions and set yourself up for future success.
Personal Note: one of my favorite parts of the Competition was getting to meet students who had taken GITG101 courses previously, including Alex Burns, who was our GITG101 Basketball Operations Intern this year after having connected following last year’s conference. GITG101 was lucky to have Kyle Goodier, Competition Director, as part of GITG101 this year as well as he oversaw our Trade Deadline Course and provided Salary Cap content throughout the year.
If you are looking for a Spring Semester Internships or have interest in being involved in GITG101, you are more than welcome to reach out to me personally, john@getinthegame101.com.
And if you are new to GITG101 and looking to start making connections in the League, our NBA Trade Deadline Course will be this February (Zoom Session), and we would love to have you! It will consist of 3 (Zoom) sessions, Jan 29, Feb 5 & 6. Guest speakers from the NBA will be in to talk about the NBA Trade Deadline and you will have the opportunity to be the GM of your own NBA franchise with trades happening between the weeks. We are running an Early Bird Special (Promo Code: EARLYBIRD) for the month of November only for $89.99. We hope to see & meet you there!