Mailbag: How were you able to navigate moving to Portland when you landed the internship with the Trail Blazers, especially financially?
How to get a job in the NBA
JP: Hi John, it's great to connect with you! I’m a big fan of your Get in the Game articles, and have been subscribed to them for a couple months. They provide a lot of insight and great advice. I wanted to ask how you were able to navigate moving away to Portland when you landed the internship with the Trail Blazers, especially financially. Thanks.
A: Thank you for the question JP. This is a great question and highly practical.
From the time I was a kid, I knew I wanted to work in the NBA. The logistics and practicality of that, I had no idea what to do. Hence, a lot of these articles and GET IN THE GAME 101 in general. What do I wish I had known or had access to when I was looking to start a career in the NBA?
After I graduated from college, I thought I had a job lined up but a few days after graduating, it fell through. Leaving me wondering… where do I live? What’s next?
#1 Start Somewhere, Anywhere
I ended up taking a temp job in Washington, D.C. while living with family before eventually taking a full-time job at Liberty University and moving back south a few hours. I knew working at Liberty or even living in Virginia wasn’t going to be long-term for me, but I knew at this point in my life, I needed to get a job and just simply have progress to the next steps in my journey.
#2 Savings
I immediately started saving money. I lived frugally, somewhat because that’s how I operate but also, I just felt there was something ahead, something I may need a cash buffer for. At the end of the year, I had saved around $10,000.
Also, during this time was when I began ‘scouting’ Liberty’s practices, learning how to break down game film, making NBA connections, etc. My time working a full-time job was not wasted. It provided for me, allowed me to gather some savings, and I used my off-time to pursue my NBA aspirations.
#3 Relationships / Network
When I interviewed with the Boston Celtics for their Video Internship, it was me and 3 local guys as the Final 4. They told me that they chose someone local.
I knew 2 people who lived in Oregon when I applied with the Trail Blazers. I had not spoken to either in 5 years but reached out to one of them and asked if I could use their address to apply for the Internship. Obviously, the Trail Blazers knew I lived and was working in Virginia but I just wanted to let them know, in a way, I was or could be ‘local.’ And on that note, I reached out to the other one after I got the internship and asked if I could stay on their couch for a few weeks before I got settled.
Well, being an unpaid Intern, I quickly realized, I really couldn’t afford to get my own space and my friend generously allowed me to continue to stay with him (and even built a bunk bed in his own room). I stayed there for around 8 months.
On a side note, these dear friends and others (these aren’t the only couches I slept on while working my way up) who so graciously allowed me to chase my dreams… when I would receive a Playoff Bonus with the Trail Blazers, I wrote them letters and included part of the bonus for each of them, saying, My Success is Your Success. I never would have ‘made it’ without the graciousness, kindness, and generosity of others. And not that I wanted to ‘pay back’ their generosity but I certainly wanted them to know they were every bit a part of my success.
Not every Internship or unpaid Internship is going to be feasible. Not everyone has a savings, or family, or friends to fall back on. So you have to take each opportunity into consideration for what it is.
So when I say network… not as in networking but who is in your network? Who can you reach out to? Who’s got your back… or a couch for you?
Determination / Willingness
You need some savings… some good people… and the rest is on you. You have to be determined to take the risk, to accept some setbacks, willing to take a chance on yourself, to chase your dream, to risk…
I don’t think it’s for everyone and it depends the season of your life. For me, I was 25, I felt like I could risk ‘everything’ because I knew it’s what I wanted and I might as well go for it. I was single, mobile, and ready to chase a dream. If you’re in a relationship, or have children, or otherwise, there could be varying factors to consider.
In short, I saved some money (which came in handy when I totaled my car my second month in Portland), I had a great network of relationships, and I was determined to chase my dream and willing to bet on myself.
Surviving (Not Thriving) as an Intern
Practically, how did I survive as an Unpaid Intern? I did not have rent due to the generosity of my friends. I showered them with Blazers gear and tickets anytime they wanted / needed, but they were simply happy to help.
I took every opportunity to drive someone somewhere workwise, that way I could collect ‘mileage’ that I would be reimbursed for and get the occasional tip from a Coach (picking up kids / family, etc). The only NBA player to ever tip me for a ride was… shoutout to Jazz legend Greg Ostertag.
I ate almost all of my meals at the Trail Blazers Practice Facility. They would let me take all the leftovers home at the end of the day, so I indeed, would take them all. And that would also be my meals while the team was on the road. And when in need, well, protein bars and Gatorade were aplenty in the facility. (once my parents found out I was often surviving on protein bars, they sent some money to round out my diet :)
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The Trail Blazers did ask me if I needed to get another job to support myself while Interning. This can be an option for some franchises. For myself, I knew I wanted to be 100% available to work for them. But with all of the opportunities there are now, it would have been much easier to do some work with Uber or Food Delivery or an on-line company and support one’s self while being fully dedicated to the Internship.
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Most NBA Internships are now paid which allows a little more flexibility. But I also look fondly upon my time of hustling and figuring it out. Because in a way, my entire life has become one of hustling and figuring it out, qualities that go along way. And if you build the relationships and network along the way, the possibilities for your life are endless.