Nothing is a Waste of Time
Working in the NBA
“Nothing is a waste of time unless you make it so. A cab driver can have as much to teach you as a professor at a University if you are open to the possibility.” – Wade Davis
‘Nothing is a waste of time’ is great advice in and of itself.
When it comes to the pursuit of a career in the NBA, it is evermore applicable. I’ve seen people ‘make’ it in 6 months, 3 years, or 10 years. The key in that time is to make use of it, all of it. Whether the ‘dream’ is happening or whether it’s simply the pursuit of the dream.
Many who are reading these articles are wrapping up their season, having completed their season at the high school or college level or finishing up at the NBA and professional level. And the off-season is where the magic happens.
It’s when some get fired and others get hired. It’s where connections are made. Interviews take place. The shifts will be most prevalent from May – September.
The off season is certainly not a time to waste time. But a time to make the most of your time. The time to make connections. One of my students who was a student manager with an NCAA team just flew out to Portland simply because someone invited him. He then reached out to me and others who lived there. He went to Trail Blazers practices and games. He had just flown to Portland from Miami where he was connecting with people from the Heat. He’s making the most of his off season.
Are there people you can meet? Is there a new skill you can learn / add? Is there a place you can volunteer / work?
The 2nd line says, “A Cab driver can have as much to teach you as a professor at a University if you are open to the possibility.”
And the same is applicable in hoops. The best people to learn from often aren’t the Head Coaches or General Managers but those who are in the trenches. Because that is where you’ll get your foot in the door, in the trenches. And you need to know what it’s like there. Sure, everyone wants to be a Head Coach or a GM and those are great aspirations – and if you ever have the opportunity to connect with one, absolutely, take advantage of that! But those you really need to connect and learn from are those who are 1 step, 2 steps, 3 steps in front of where you want to be.