Step 2 on How to Get a Job in the NBA – Get Experience!
Getting a job in the NBA
Last week, I talked about Step 1 in getting a job in the NBA, Have a Skill Set. Too many people take the approach of, “It’s my dream to work in the NBA and I’ll do anything!” rather than “It’s my dream to work in the NBA and these are the skills I have to help elevate your organization.”
What goes hand in hand with acquiring a skill set is Step 2, gaining experience. Even if you have the needed to skills to work in the NBA, the second thing NBA teams are going to want to know is where you have experience utilizing those skills.
One of the most common questions I get in regards to gaining experience is… “How and where do I get experience?”
My answer is, start with whatever teams are closest to you. Do you have any NBA teams near you? Reach out to them. Do you have G-League, WNBA, NCAA teams near? Reach out to them. Do you have a local high school, YMCA, or AAU program near you? Reach out to them.
It is more important to gain experience and utilize your skills than it is to wait around for the highest level of basketball. Reach out to teams, let them know your areas of interest and find out where you can be an addition to their team or organization. If you are able to get on with a professional or NCAA team, oftentimes, this will allow you to further experience your skills by gaining access to different platforms / subscriptions that you can use to further your skill set.
But the most important part is to start where you are. By starting where you are, you will begin to build relationships and your network. In sports, people are always moving around and taking the next opportunity. And with that, they are often bringing people they trust and like working with alongside them.
Identify your areas of interest (coaching, scouting, analytics, coding, player development, training). Become an expert in that area. Gain experience in that area.
Another key is networking in the space you are gaining experience. Don’t reach out to every single person in the NBA. Reach out to those in positions you desire. Ask them questions about their journey and what things they did (and you could do) that helped them along the way. Most job opportunities will come through your professional network.
Build a portfolio. To showcase what you have to offer a team or organization, start to build out a portfolio that showcases your skill set. Have work samples, YouTube videos, etc that highlight what you are capable to adding to a team.
Our mini-guide to working in basketball can be found here by clicking here