Questions > Answers

Getting a Job in the NBA

When you work in professional sports, there are a lot of people with answers. A lot of egos. A lot of people who speak as if they might just have invented the sport.

And then you come along, and give them your answers.

That’s a quick way of not getting hired.

A better alternative, asking the right questions.

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” - Pierre Marc Gaston

People love talking about themselves. Unlocking a conversation through a question will go much further than coming up to someone and sharing what you know.

When I was an Intern with the Trail Blazers, it was commonly known that you didn’t speak for the first year.  Your first season was for listening and learning.  Do well at that, and responsibility soon enough would come your way.

But occasionally we’d have an Intern come in who didn’t need to listen. Because they already had the answers. And turns out, those Interns didn’t always finish even one season with the team. 

But it’s not just about keeping your mouth shut. It’s about growing and learning. It’s about building connections.

Asking questions facilitates all of those things.

So as you go along applying for NBA Internships this summer, don’t worry so much about how much you know and don’t know because it’s more about being able to ask questions, listen, and learn.  The knowledge will come through taking those actions.   

For those who were able to attend the NBA Summer League, I hope you all had an amazing experience. We absolutely loved having you in our Summer League Course.

This Tuesday, we’ll be hosting an open forum for all for a Summer League follow-up. Come share your experience with us, ask follow up questions, and continue to build your network and connections. Session is open for anyone (whether you were able to attend SL or not). 

Topic: GITG101 NBA Summer League Follow Up Session

Time: Jul 23, 2024 05:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89775967862

Meeting ID: 897 7596 7862