Careers in professional basketball: your dream can come true

CAREERS IN

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL

Institute Research Number 29 ISBN 1-58511-029-9 O*Net SOC Code 27-2021.00

CAREERS IN

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL YOUR DREAM CAN COME TRUE

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PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IS THE KIND OF CAREER THAT YOU DREAM ABOUT

having when you are a child. For years and years, boys and girls have imagined being the one dribbling the ball down the court, stopping at the three-point line and launching the winning shot. Children have often pretended to leap into the air and pull off an amazing 360-degree windmill dunk, all the time wondering what it really would feel like to accomplish such a feat. Youngsters yearn to someday be the one making the impossible, no-look bounce pass to set-up an easy lay-up. It is truly the stuff that childhood dreams are made of. Yet, for most people, professional basketball careers remain dreams. All too often, talented individuals give up their quest for basketball glory because the odds seem insurmountable. They may believe that there are too many other players with more talent. They may feel that they just aren’t good enough. They may feel that there simply aren’t enough job openings for them to have a prayer of landing one. Or they may simply be afraid of putting in the hard work required and taking such a monumental risk. True, it is hard to become a professional athlete. However, it is possible, provided a person knows how to go about it, has the desire, and is willing to put forth the effort required to find success. Do you think you have what it takes to find employment in this competitive career field? Are you willing to work hard and make sacrifices in order to make your hoop dreams a reality? If so, then this report can help you. It contains tips from the experts, as well as personal comments from current and former basketball stars. It certainly won’t guarantee you a long and lucrative career as a basketball player. It won’t even guarantee you a short stint as a bench-warmer in the semi-professional leagues. However, it will give you a glimpse at the preparation, effort, dedication, persistence, and psychological fortitude needed to step onto the court in the big leagues.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW THE EASIEST AND MOST HELPFUL THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF OUT ON

the road to a career in basketball is quite simply to play the game. Play as part of a high school or local community team. Play with the Amateur Athletic Union, which is an organization that sponsors teams for both boys (Web site at aauboysbasketball.org) and girls (aaugirlsbasketball.org). Play with friends, in churches, in parks, on the streets, or elsewhere. The more you can play, the better. However, don’t just play. Learn while you are playing. Get a feel for the team dynamic, and get used to being a team player. Practice various shots on your own, like the free-throw, the three-pointer, and the lay-up. Do passing and dribbling drills. Doing these things will give you the opportunity to hone your skills, both alone and in game conditions, as well as to help you gain new abilities. It will contribute the most to improving your game and thus your chances someday to play in the pros. However, playing is far from the only thing you can do. You can read books by and about former players and coaches, as they have a lot to share about the road to the pros as well as what the life of a professional player is like. You can also read how-to books and watch skill-building videos to learn new things that might help you master techniques for use on the court. You should certainly look into attending a skill-building clinic or camp. These activities may help teach you secrets and add new aspects to your play. More information on these clinics, as well as a list of Web sites that list clinic dates and locations, is available in the Getting Started section of this report.

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HISTORY OF THE CAREER DR. JAMES NAISMITH CREATED BASketball, OR “BASKET BALL” AS IT WAS ACTUALLY

called at first, in 1891. Naismith, a native of Almonte, Ontario, Canada, was teaching physical education at a Christian school in the winter of that year when he was asked to develop an indoor game to help keep athletic-minded young men entertained. He initially tried to adapt outdoor games like lacrosse or soccer for indoor use, but these efforts failed. He eventually developed a game where players take a ball similar to a soccer ball and throw it through an elevated goal, which happened to be an old peach basket. The last step was for Naismith to develop a set of rules for his new game. As the doctor wanted a game that was fairly nonviolent and did not allow rough housing, the first seven rules established guidelines for game play. Among those rules: “A player cannot run with the ball, as he must throw it from the spot on which he catches it…” and “No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed.” The eighth rule dealt with scoring, the ninth with out-of-bounds policies, the tenth and eleventh with referees, the twelfth with game length, and the final rule with declaring a winner. Naismith’s game debuted, according to sources, on December 21, 1891 and caught on quickly with schools and colleges throughout the United States. Pressed for a name for this hot new sport, the doctor passed on the moniker Naismith ball and opted to dub the game basket ball. Thus was the phenomena born. According to the Association for Professional Basketball Research, basketball leagues date back to 1898 and the National Basket Ball League, which ran until 1904. Look at this interesting Web site at: hometown.aol.com/bradleyrd /apbr.html Also around this time there was the Interstate League, which ran for one season in 1899-00. Several other leagues also started play in the early 1900s. Among them: the American Basket Ball Association (1900), the American Basketball League (1901-02), the Central Massachusetts Basketball League (1901-02), the Massachusetts Basketball League (1900-01), the New England Basketball Association (1904-05), the New England Basketball League (1903-04), the Philadelphia Basket Ball League (1902-03), the Western Massachusetts Basketball League (1903-04), and the Western Pennsylvania Basketball League (1903-04). 5

The Birth of the NBA By the late 1940s, the popularity of professional basketball reached such a level that the operators of the nation’s biggest sports venues decided to join together and create a new cross-country league. Their vision became a reality in the summer of 1946 with the advent of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which eventually became the National Basketball Association (NBA) that we know today. The league featured teams located in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Louis, Toronto, and Washington. The BAA still faced competition from the National Basketball League, which despite playing in smaller venues is generally considered to have featured superior talent. Nonetheless, the upstart new league managed to acquire a mix of former American Basketball League stars and collegiate players and took the court for the first time in November of 1946. The league’s first game occurred on November 1 of that year, as the Toronto Huskies played host to the New York Knickerbockers. Ozzie Schectman of the Knickerbockers scored the first basket of the game. New York led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter and held onto a 37-29 advantage at the half. Toronto rallied and took their first lead of the game in the third quarter. Trailing 48-44 at the start of the final period, New York rallied, eventually winning 68-66 thanks to scores by Dick Murphy and Tommy Byrnes in the final 2 1/2-minutes of the game. Sadowski led the Huskies with 18 points, while Leo Gottlieb topped all New York players by scoring 14. However, the league’s initial 60-game regular season belonged to the Washington Capitals and their coach, the legendary Red Auerbach. Washington rolled to a 49-11 record and only lost one of their 30 home games, winning the Eastern Division Championship by a 14-game margin. However, it was the second-place Warriors of Philadelphia who claimed the BAA’s first ever title by downing the West Division Champion Chicago Stags 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals. The Warriors also boasted the league’s leading scorer during the 1946-47 season – a 6’ 5” forward from Kentucky by the name of Joe Fulks, who averaged 23.2 points per game during the regular season. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the NBA began to falter. Scoring was way down, according to an article by Alex Sachare of the Web site www.NBA.com, highlighted by a 19-18 nightmare between the Minneapolis Lakers and the Fort Wayne Pistons on November 22, 1950. In order to increase offense and make the game more exciting, 6

the league took drastic measures and in 1954, decided to first implement the 24-second shot clock. The impact was immense and immediate. According to Sachare, NBA teams averaged 93.1 points per game that season – an increase of nearly 14 points per game over the previous year! In 1994-95, the Boston Celtics became the first team in NBA history to average 100 points per game for an entire season. Of course, the NBA has an extremely rich history. From great players like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to legendary dynasties like the Boston Celtics and, more recently, the Chicago Bulls, the National Basketball Association has become synonymous with professional basketball. In 1999, the league further entrenched itself as the top pro hoops league in the world with the formation of the National Basketball Developmental League, or NBDL. The NBDL, which started play in 2001, is a semi-pro league formed to develop potential NBA players and future professional basketball stars. Both the NBA and the NBDL continue to play today, and both continue to be the primary employers of male professional basketball players in the United States.

History of Women’s Basketball One of the earliest success stories in all of basketball history was that of a Canadian women’s team called the Edmonton Commercial Graduates, or “Grads.” The Grads were a six-player team that toured arenas around the world from 1915 to 1940. During their barnstorming years, they won 502 out of the 522 games they played and held onto the title North American Champions from 1923 to 1940. They also participated in the Olympics four times, never losing a game in any of those appearances. Naismith himself has been quoted as calling the Grads “the finest team that ever stepped out on a floor.” Even if Naismith felt they were the best, the Grads were far from the only barnstorming female team that gained popularity in the first half of the 20th century. In 1936, Missouri-native C.M. Olsen formed a women’s team called the All-American Red Heads. What separated the Red Heads from most teams was the fact that they had a gimmick – each member of the team dyed her hair red, thus living up to the moniker. The gimmick worked wonders, as the Red Heads drew impressive crowds of fans wherever they went. The team toured the country, playing against men’s teams and remaining in existence for more than 50 years.

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The ladies took their first crack at an established professional league in 1978, with the formation of the Women’s Professional Basketball League, or WBL. The first WBL game pitted the Chicago Hustle against the Milwaukee Does. The first basket came just seconds into the game, as Joanie Smith of the Does sank a jump shot to give her team the lead. Chicago led by three at the half and took a commanding 13-point lead midway through the final period. Milwaukee rallied, but in the end the Hustle came away with a 92-87 win. The first season saw many ups and downs for the rookie league. In January of 1979, the league announced expansion. However, there was immense turmoil on many of the existing franchises, and media coverage was either sparse or scathing. Several teams were criticized for their business practices, and in February of 1979, the league went so far as to assume control of one team (the Dayton Rockettes). Ultimately, though, the season forged onward, and the Houston Angels downed the Iowa Cornets to win the inaugural WBL championship. Shortly thereafter, the league announced that it was losing money. By the end of 1981, the WBL ceased opertations. Even though the WBL was short lived, it helped lay the groundwork for women’s leagues to come. During its last season, it saw competition in the form of the Ladies Professional Basketball Association, which played one season in 1980-81. In 1984 came the Women’s American Basketball Association, which also played just one season before calling it quits. Two years later came the National Women’s Basketball Association. It never saw the court, disbanding prior to its first season. There have been many other women’s leagues that have come and gone since the WBL, but none enjoyed the success of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The WNBA was established by the National Basketball Association Board of Governors in April of 1996. The first player signings came that October, as the league made deals with stars Sheryl Swoops and Rebecca Lobo. Eight teams were established for the first season – the Charlotte Sting, the Cleveland Rockers, the Houston Comets and the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference and the Los Angeles Sparks, the Phoenix Mercury, the Sacramento Monarchs and the Utah Starzz in the Western Conference. The first WNBA game pitted New York against Los Angeles and came on June 21, 1997. Sparks guard Penny Toler was the first player 8

to score a basket, but the Liberty went on to claim a 67-57 victory. Cynthia Cooper went on to become the league’s first Most Valuable Player, and the Comets laid claim to the first ever WNBA Championship. The league’s first All-Star Game wouldn’t be held until 1999. The game was held at Madison Square Garden, and Lisa Leslie took home MVP honors as she led the Western Conference to a 79-61 win over the Eastern Conference. Despite reports that the league has financial troubles, the WNBA is still the top professional women’s basketball league in the world. Games are televised on network TV, as well as ESPN cable outlets. Also, for the first time, the league’s player draft is covered live on an ESPN channel. According to the league’s official Web site, WNBA games are broadcast to nearly 60 million fans every season.

WHERE BASKETBALL PLAYERS WORK THOSE LOOKING TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL WILL BE WORKING AS PART OF

one of a handful of organized leagues or sometimes as a member of a traveling or barnstorming club, although such teams are somewhat rare these days. Current professional leagues include the following: National Basketball Association (NBA) Continental Basketball Association (CBA) National Basketball Developmental League (NBDL) National Basketball League (NBL) Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Women’s American Basketball Association (WABA), and the United States Basketball League (USBL) Teams are traditionally centered in large cities such as Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, but travel from city to city on a regular basis for road games.

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Of course, provided you are seriously pursuing a career in professional basketball, you probably already knew all of that. You should also already be intimately familiar with the various workplaces that are commonly utilized by basketball players, professional or otherwise. The reason, of course, is because you are most likely already putting in hours upon hours of work at these locations, either on your own or as part of an organized school or community club (or both). You practice and play on a basketball court. You prepare in a locker room. You use a gym or weight-room to help train and build a better physique. These activities may get more time-consuming and more elaborate as you move from high-school hoops through college and into the pro ranks, but they will always be an essential part of your work duties. However, there are still some changes that you should be aware of. Professional courts, while extremely similar to collegiate or high school courts, do differ somewhat from their NCAA and prep level counterparts, and since professional basketball players spend much of their time practicing or playing in these arenas, you should be aware of the incongruities and prepare for them accordingly. According to information provided by The Spalding Book of Rules, men’s and women’s prep courts are 84ft long and 50ft wide. NBA, WNBA, and NCAA courts are all 10ft longer (measuring 94ft long and 50ft wide). The book goes on to point out other differences. In college hoops as well as in the WNBA, the free-throw lane is 12 x 19, as compared to the NBA’s 16 x 19 lane. All forms of basketball place the free-throw line 15ft from the basket while the three-point line varies, measuring 19ft 9in from the center of the basket in the NCAA and WNBA and 23ft 9in in the men’s professional league. In all forms of basketball, however, the field of play will also contain the following: an 18in basket, located 10ft above the foor; a backboard that measures 6 x 4; a pair of sidelines and a pair of end lines; a division line at center court; two center circles, one with a 2ft radius surrounded by one with a 6ft radius; and a pair of 28ft long coaching boxes, one located behind each sideline.

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PLAYING THE GAME OF COURSE, YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS CAREER IS TO PLAY

basketball. Everything you do, from weight training and cardiovascular exercise to studying game tapes and practicing scoring drills, is done with the goal of making you a better basketball player. However, what many aspiring professional players fail to realize is that basketball itself contains many individual tasks that need to be completed during the course of a game. Each of these fundamentals is part of being a basketball player, and you should practice and become highly skilled at them all.

Shooting It should go without saying that shooting the ball and making baskets is the single most essential part of the sport. As Dr. Ralph L. Pim writes in his book Winning Basketball, “Shooting is the most important fundamental in the game of basketball. Regardless of how well a team does everything else, if it cannot score points it will not be successful.” Thus, it is essential that basketball players hone their skills in a variety of shots, including jump shots, free throws, lay-ups, and three-pointers. A successful shot is a mechanically sound one. When shooting, your feet should be approximately shoulder-width apart and pointed toward the basket. Center the hand you shoot with (your strong hand) on the basketball and place your weak hand on the side to help balance and guide the shot. Cock your wrist back slightly, but not all the way. It should be slanted, not flat. Keep the elbow of your shooting arm pointed toward the basket. Concentrate, focus on the basket and avoid distractions. Thrust your wrist and fingers forward as though they were a catapult, and make sure that you fully extend your elbow on the follow-through. This technique works well for nearly every type of shot.

Passing Of course, you won’t be the only one scoring all of the time. That’s where passing comes in. It is essential that a good basketball player has the ability to find open receivers, anticipate the movement of teammates, and then determine whether or not they are ready to take possession of the ball. You should also be able to quickly analyze whether or not they have a clear and makable shot. Once you find a receiver who is open and in position to score, you need to give the player a good pass. Not only does that mean making sure the pass is not intercepted by a defender, but making sure that it reaches your teammate while still open, and that the ball is delivered 11

so that little time elapses between the reception and the shot attempt. The receiver needs to be able to take the pass and shoot quickly, and there is little room for error.

Ball-Handling There is an old basketball adage that says you must never put the ball on the floor unless you have a good reason to dribble. That said, you will often need to dribble in order to create a passing lane or shooting opportunity, so you should be able to handle the ball well. The first rule of ball-handling is to keep your head up. You should never have to look at the ball; it should feel like part of your body. To create space and avoid turnovers, always use the hand farthest from the defender guarding you. Never halt a dribble unless you can do something with the ball, like take a shot or pass it to a teammate. Also, use your fingers to control the ball when dribbling, not the palm of your hand. This will give you more control over the ball and will make errant dribbles less likely.

Rebounding Not every shot will go in, so you need to be able to get in position to collect the misses for your team. Rebounding requires both effort and proper technique. Often times, the player who tries hardest is the one who gets the ball, so always make sure to attack the boards with your best effort. You should always assume that every shot will be missed and react accordingly. Move toward the basket immediately after the shot is taken. Get your hands up and prepare to leap for the ball. Use your body like a roadblock, and place yourself between the basket and your opponent (this is called “boxing-out”). Once you are in position, jump with everything you have, fight for the ball, and make sure you protect it once you land.

Defense Some experts feel that the most important part of the sport of basketball is the defensive side, and it is hard to argue that point. In professional basketball, just about every player has world-class shooting ability. Often times, the difference between victory and defeat is keeping these playmakers from having a chance to take or make the shot. There is no magic drill that helps a player become stronger on defense. Playing good defense requires hard work, persistence, dedication, preparation and intelligence. You have to know your opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies, and you need to make a superhuman effort to prevent them from playing their game. Tenacity is a defensive player’s best friend. However, you also need to take care not to become too aggressive, lest you commit too many fouls and be disqualified from 12

the game. Play hard, play quick, but play smart too, because you cannot help your team if you’re left sitting on the bench during crunch time.

PLAYING YOUR POSITION IDEALLY, A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER IS PROFICIENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF

the game. However, they need to be masters of each task. Basketball players assume a variety of positions on the court, and their in-game duties vary depending upon which position or positions they are assigned to play during the contest. If you can’t master every possible job of a basketball player, at least master those required in the position you plan to play. After all, even former NBA Most Valuable Player and all-world center Shaquille O’Neill has weaknesses – his free-throw shooting is far from stellar.

Guards Guards are charged with bringing the ball from the opponent’s end of the court to their team’s end, and will be expected to do a lot of dribbling and controlling the ball to successfully complete this task. They are also considered to be the leader, or ‘quarterback” in football terms, of the offense. As such, they must relay in formations and plays from the coaches on the sidelines and communicate them to their teammates, usually through hand signals. They must also find open players and deliver the ball to them. Defensively, they cover the other team’s best shooters and because of their quickness and hand-eye coordination, are often asked to steal, or slap the ball away, from the players they cover. Lastly, guards are often asked to score from a great distance, and thus should be skilled at the jump shot and the three-pointer.

Centers Centers are the big men and women in the middle. They are expected to be a dominating force in the low post, and should be tall and strong in order to be most effective. Centers are the players who use their size to get close to the basket and score from the inside. They are expected to rebound every missed shot and get it to another member of their team (usually a guard) so that the team can set up for a scoring attempt. Another key duty of the center is to prevent the other team’s players from getting close to the basket for a shot. Failing that, centers are asked to block shots, which requires them to plot the ball’s trajectory, timing their jump, and hitting the ball before it reaches the 13

basket and before it begins its decent toward the hoop (which would result in a goal tending rules violation).

Forwards Forwards have a little bit of both guards and centers in them. Like centers, they are expected to be able to get position in the low post, score from the inside, and rebound the ball. Like guards, they need to be able to hit jump shots on a regular basis and should be able to sink the occasional three-point basket. Defensively, they are usually asked to cover other forwards. Like centers, they are expected to prevent the players they guard from getting close to the basket. However, they also need to be able to guard against the long shot as well. Forwards need to be versatile, assuming many different roles depending on a given situation. Players who are normally forwards are sometimes asked to shift to center in a three-guard formation, or if the normal center is for some reason unable to participate. In short, a forward is expected to be a very versatile player.

OFF THE COURT IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER’S

work-related responsibilities do not end once they leave the floor. There are many other important duties they must perform. They must keep in top physical condition through weight training and cardiovascular exercise. They must meet with and give interviews to members of the media, even if they have an off night or lose. They are expected to spend at least some time meeting, speaking with, and signing autographs for fans. They are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. Pro athletes are thought of as role models. They are respected and adored by youngsters everywhere and they are expected to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of such respect and adoration.

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PLAYERS TELL THEIR OWN STORIES I Was Voted One of the Top 50 Players in NBA History “I played professional basketball from 1960 to 1974 as a member of both the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1961, I was voted the Rookie of the Year, and three seasons later, I became the first guard ever voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. I was also named to the NBA All-Star Team in 12 consecutive seasons (1960-61 to 1971-72), and was the first player in league history to average a triple-double in 1961-62 (30.8 points per game, 11.4 assists, 12.5 rebounds). What does it take to become a pro basketball player? In general, my answer is that you have to take the game seriously and commit to developing the necessary skills through practice on your own – practice that is conducted according to a plan and provides metrics for measuring improvement. As you can imagine, professional basketball is not a career where you just decide you’ll do it, so the usual rules for preparation and job search do not necessarily apply. I talk about these things in my book, The Art of Basketball, which I co-wrote with Michael O’Daniel and is available at my Web site www.thebigo.com. I was fortunate enough to grow up in Indianapolis, an environment where people took basketball seriously. At an early age, I saw that if I wanted to play with older, more experienced players, I’d have to practice on my own to bring my skills up to their level. They weren’t running a clinic, and they weren’t about to let anybody on the court who would slow them down. That was my first lesson: The best way to improve is to play with people who are better than you are. I played against some great players, and developed my game in response to what they were doing. For example, I got tired of getting my jump shot blocked and had to figure out a way to get the shot off against taller and stronger players. I never thought I was that special; the minute you got the idea you were the best in your class, someone else would come along and ‘take you to school.’ 15

Lesson number two was that you had homework in basketball just as you did in school. I gave myself a daily assignment: lay-ups and tip-ins with either hand, free throws, crossover dribbles, reverse pivots, dribbling with my left hand. I worked on shooting from spots where I had difficulty: bank shots from every conceivable angle, side shots, hook shots, shots moving to the basket. Then I couldn’t wait to get into a game and try them out. If something didn’t work, it was back to the woodshed. When something did work, how could I use it to better advantage? This was fun! Suppose you’re part of a team and you already practice two hours a day. Why is it necessary for you to practice on your own? Here’s why. Your coach is concerned with (1) whatever it takes for your team to win, and (2) your individual development as a player to the extent that it affects the team. The coach may or may not have the time or the inclination to work with you individually. You’re responsible for filling in the gaps in your game. That’s reality. Lesson number three was the importance of your mental approach to the game, something I came to appreciate more the longer I played. For example, the single biggest factor in improving your game is your determination to improve. That’s mental. Sticking to a regular practice schedule is mental. Learning from your mistakes, developing your concentration, playing with intensity, using common sense, building your confidence – all these are part of your mental approach to the game. If you’ve got both the physical and the mental skills, you’ve put the complete package together. Right? Wrong. You’re still just one person. You have to surround yourself with others who take the game as seriously as you do, who know how to win, who will do what it takes to win. In my book, I list the traits for ‘The Ideal All-Around Player’. When a business company has job openings to fill, its personnel department often creates ‘ideal candidate profiles’ describing the qualifications it expects of the applicants who hope to fill those positions. The major physical and mental attributes I’d look for in a pro basketball player include: Quickness, strength, 16

flexibility, endurance, peripheral vision, pride, concentration, intensity, common sense, confidence, courage, reliability, will power, control, commitment, awareness, adaptability, strong work ethic. Height and speed are desirable, of course, but preferably in combination with these other qualities. I’d like to leave you with one last quote, from the dedication page of The Art of Basketball: ‘I hope you get the same enjoyment out of becoming a better basketball player that I did. I firmly believe that the harder you work to improve your skills, the more you’ll enjoy the process. Even if you never play in organized competition, take pride in the fact that you took up the challenge to make a better player of yourself. It will serve you well in life."

I Am A Two-Time WNBA All-Star “I started playing basketball when I was in junior high. I was about a head taller than everyone else, so everyone thought I should play basketball. I continually improved from there. I was a four-year letter-winner in both basketball and volleyball at UCLA. In fact, I was the first woman to earn All-American honors in both sports in the same year. Following my college career, I played three seasons with the Portland Power of the ABL, where I was selected to the All-ABL First team in 1997 and 1998. After a pretty successful career in the ABL, I was selected by the Utah Starzz as the third overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft. When I was drafted by the Starzz and first joined the WNBA, I was excited and very happy to be a part of it. I came from another league, so I felt very comfortable. A lot of other players made the move over to the WNBA with me. I love playing basketball at the professional level. The thing I love the most about the WNBA is the fan support. My favorite game of all time was the gold medal game in Sydney. One of the responsibilities of being a basketball player is being a role model. We are definitely role models because we are 17

in the public eye. Especially as women in a new sport, we have a lot of young girls who look up to us. Hopefully, we will set a good example, and those girls will want to go to college, play basketball, set high goals and achieve them. My role models in basketball were Karl Malone, Cheryl Miller, and Michael Jordan. My daily workout routine consists of lifting weights and doing cardio [cardiovascular exercise]. Sometimes I play an hour of basketball with the guys or do an individual work out. I also do pool conditioning workouts. Recently I returned from traveling with the USA team so that was a workout. When I’m not playing basketball, I love to watch movies, go to movies especially for the popcorn. I love to read and hang out with my family. My advice to young players? Never give up on yourself or your dreams. Believe in yourself and anything is possible. Remember the people who help you along the way.”

I Was the Leading Scorer During the Inaugural Season of the NBDL “I am a guard who went to Washington State University before joining Mobile Revelers of the National Basketball Developmental League. I was the league’s leading scorer for the inaugural season (2001-2002) of the NBDL, and was named to the All-NBDL first team as well. I averaged 17.4 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, and over 29.7 minutes per game in 52 games for the Revelers that season. I have also been called-up by the Memphis Grizzlies for a 10-day contract, where I played in six games and averaged 1.5 points per game and over 12.5 minutes per game. I decided to pursue a career in professional basketball when I was in college. I was having relatively good success on my college team, so I thought that I would be able to parlay basketball into a career.

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I first got started playing basketball when I was in the fifth grade. I was taller than everyone else so I was encouraged to play. My father was a good player also so he helped my game out tremendously so I started from there. A typical practice day is the following: Get up at 9AM, practice at 10AM to 12AM. Go lift weights from 2PM to 3PM. The rest of the day is for reading, relaxing, and releasing. A typical game day is as follows: Get up at 10AM, shoot around 11am, pre-game meal at anywhere from 1PM to 3PM, go to the gym at 5:30PM and game at 7:30PM. Educational background that I would suggest would be Money Management, Business Management, and/of Finance. These courses will not help in playing basketball but they will help with life after basketball and taking care of your off the court business during basketball. I enjoy playing the game of basketball, first and foremost. Secondly, I like the traveling. Thirdly, I enjoy the camaraderie with other players. The negative factors involved in my chosen career field are not being able to spend time with those you care about. I can’t be with my girlfriend, family and friends as much as I would like. This is the only negative factor that I can think of associated with my career field. What other advice do I have for others that may read this? The advice I would give anyone is the following: work hard, play hard, and have fun!”

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PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS OBVIOUSLY, BEING HIGHLY SKILLED IN THE ART OF BASKETBALL IS A PREREQUISITE

for those looking to become professional basketball players. They need to be skilled shooters, good defensive players, tenacious rebounders and excellent ball handlers, depending upon the position they play and their goals in the world of pro hoops. Skill and talent alone do not make a basketball player, however. It also takes a certain type of person with great mental and psychological character to earn one of the rare job openings in this highly selective career. Basketball players must have a lot of confidence in themselves and their abilities. They must be able to envision themselves as a great player. Having a positive image of yourself will help you make that image a reality. You must be confident of your abilities, both now and in the future. You must be able to visualize positive outcomes at all times. Also, you must be able to concentrate, remain focused, and work hard to improve. Confidence, dedication, and concentration are the three traits that professional athletes definitely must possess in order to succeed. Yet, they must also be able to stay calm, and know when they are overdoing it. Working hard and keeping focused are important, but so are remaining composed, being smart, and not overworking. Pessimism is one of the most dangerous enemies of the professional basketball player. Athletes must have a positive outlook on things, as well as a short memory when something goes wrong. In addition, basketball players must always want to do the best they can and be the best they are able to. Their desire should be unparalleled, and they constantly are seeking improvement. To that end, they must also be able to evaluate their performance without bias, and they must be willing to accept criticism and advice without rationalizing or blaming others. This mental toughness must also be applied to other aspects of their performance – namely, dealing with injuries or on-the-job setbacks. Players must also be unselfish. They need to remember that this is a team game, and that the success of their team is far more important than their perceived personal success. They must possess enthusiasm. Basketball players must love the game they play. Their passion for the sport must constantly burn deep within them. They should genuinely enjoy the game. If you strive to become a professional athlete, and are fortunate enough to be 20

selected, you will be asked to make sacrifices in nearly every aspect of your life. Ask yourself, do you love the game enough to make these sacrifices? Truly, all of these personal qualifications are important, but if you don’t have this kind of devotion to the game, then you won’t make it. Without that desire and passion, you quite simply are not cut out to be a professional basketball player.

ATTRACTIVE FEATURES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE MAJORITY

of the people who do it, and in many ways it is its own reward. Even at a very early age, many boys and girls dream about becoming professional athletes and playing basketball for a living. They dream of taking the ball down the court, finding the open seam and making a dazzling lay-up. They dream of doing a 360-degree windmill slam dunk, astonishing the crowd with their athletic ability. They dream of sinking the long three-pointer with time running out, winning the game for their club. Professional basketball is one of those careers that dreams are made of, and actually being able to step onto the floor and make a living playing the game you love is arguably its most attractive feature. Of course, there are other good things about landing a career in pro basketball, as well. For one, the earning potential is very high. There is million-dollar potential for selected players. Also, there are more financial and employment opportunities to be had, namely in the world of endorsements. Basketball players also gain a fairly high level of acclaim, which means that you may become famous in this career. Fame can be a good thing, depending upon personal preferences. Seeing the world through travel, which you will most certainly do a lot of as a professional basketball player, will also appeal to some.

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UNATTRACTIVE FEATURES NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IS A VERY PHYSICALLY

demanding profession. First, you are expected to undergo a grueling pre-season training camp. Then, you may play nearly every day for months on end. The effort required will not only exhaust you, but it will take its toll on your body as well. Your knees and ankles will wear down from shooting jump shots and pulling down rebounds. Centers and forwards will get banged up from physical play in the lanes. Be prepared to experience fatigue and pain regularly. Playing the game is not the only thing that will tire you out working as a pro basketball player. The travel schedule is also very demanding, mentally as well as physically. In a single week, a player whose team is based in Boston may have to go from there to Detroit, down to Orlando, then back to Boston before jetting off to New York. Travel sickness will undoubtedly set in at some point during the season. In addition, the travel will require you to be away from your family and friends for extended period of times, occasionally even on holidays, adding to the emotional demands of the game. Be prepared to endure many such sacrifices in your personal life. Another dark side of becoming a pro athlete is that it requires an exceptionally strong moral character in order to keep out of trouble. The world of professional sports can be a dangerous one. Temptations will consistently present themselves to the basketball player. There’s no way to sugarcoat it – athletes will be faced with a constant barrage of vices. There will be drugs. There will be alcohol. There will be members of the opposite sex seeking affairs. There will be predators posing as friends. As a pro basketball player, you need to be smart enough and tough enough to withstand these temptations, or at the very least to surround yourself with trusted friends and advisors to help you protect yourself, your health and your earnings. You will have to deal with all of these things if you are one of the lucky few selected to become a professional basketball player. That leads to another unattractive feature of careers in pro hoops – the fact that only a handful of the thousands of thousands of aspiring basketball stars will ever be fortunate enough to secure a job in this career. It is something that anyone seeking to enter the field should be aware of. Prepare yourself as well as possible and give it your all, but be realistic about your chances. Few will ever make it into the pros, so it is wise to have a backup plan just in case. 22

EDUCATION AND TRAINING TRUTH BE TOLD, ACQUIRING A FORMAL EDUCATION IS NOT RELEVANT TO THIS

career. In some cases, teams and scouts like to see that a player has obtained a high school diploma and a college degree, but the course of study is rarely if ever an issue. Popular majors among college athletes include sociology, psychology, business administration, marketing, accounting, physical education, communications, and kinesiology. Any of these would be fine choices should you decide to pursue a degree. The important thing to think about in planning your education is what you would like to do with your life after your playing days are over. Choose a major that fits your post-basketball career plans. Of greater immediate importance is training in the skills required of a basketball player, such as shooting, dribbling, and rebounding. Training camps are excellent places to hone these skills. Alternatively, you can also train yourself through use of instructional videos and books, or through one-on-one feedback with a coach or scout. There are many exercises out there to improve your game. To become a better shooter, try games like 21, H.O.R.S.E. or Around the World. For ball-handling skills, you can practice by dribbling the ball in a figure-eight pattern through your legs. You can practice passing by aiming for a target on a wall. There are many such exercises available for all different aspects of the sport. Track them down and train with them. You will become a better player by doing so.

EARNINGS THE EARNING POTENTIAL FOR MALES ENTERING THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL

basketball is outstanding. USA Today (www.usatoday.com) published a list of the highest-paid NBA players during a recent season. On the list was Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who earned an amazing $22.4 million in total compensation in one year. Another was Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal with $21.43 million, followed by Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat ($18.76 million), Juwan Howard of the Dallas Mavericks ($18.75 million) and Scottie Pippen of the Portland Trailblazers ($18.1 million). Every player on the newspaper’s list earned at least $12 million in just one year.

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However, those numbers are not truly indicative of NBA salaries and may be misleading. True, the multi-million dollar salaries are possible, but not everyone who plays the game will bring in that kind of money. In fact, the league minimum for rookies is about $335,000. Players with one season of experience earn at least $465,000, with the minimum salary jumping to $540,000 after two years of service, $565,000 after three years, $590,000 after four years, and so on. Players who enjoy careers of at least 10 seasons in the league earn a minimum of $1 million and as much as $15,000,000 in base salary during the season. The average NBA salary has recently been over $1 million. The average salary is rising rapidly and realistically could top $5 million very soon. However, a new NBA rule calls for 10-percent of a player’s salary to revert back to the team owner should the sum of player salaries exceed 55-percent of the franchise’s basketball-related income. The result could be the first decrease in NBA player earnings in at least a decade. It’s also important to keep in mind that the very high salaries last for only a relatively short playing career – 10 years is a long time – not a lifetime as in other fields. The numbers aren’t as impressive for professional women’s league players. The average salary of WNBA players is a small fraction of the average NBA player salary. According to information from the league’s union, the average WNBA player earns about $45,000 per season. If you include benefits such as housing, expenses, and 401(k), the average compensation package increases to $55,000 each year. The rookie minimum is $30,000 a year, and the highest WNBA contract results in $80,000 per season, or more than $250,000 less than the NBA rookie minimum salary. Union officials are attempting to negotiate a new deal that will bring women’s salaries closer to their male counterparts. However, the prospect of raising salaries is alarming to team owners, as the women’s league has yet to earn a profit.

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OPPORTUNITIES STUDYING AND PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IS A

noble goal, but when it comes to actually landing a job in a league like the NBA or WNBA, the odds are about as good as one of those sweepstakes you hear about on TV – thousands will enter, but only a few will win. Realistically speaking, securing a job as a professional basketball player, or as any professional athlete for that matter, is a difficult venture. Few jobs are as highly coveted as those in professional sports. Becoming a professional athlete is the dream career, so you can imagine that the competition will be unbelievably tough. There are 29 teams in the National Basketball Association, each of which can employ between 12 and 15 players (varies due to injuries). The entire NBA employed only 420 athletes in one recent season. In the women’s league, there are 16 teams, each of which employs around 12 players. The WNBA employed fewer than 200 athletes in that same recent season. There is also a limited number of opportunities available with other leagues. Male basketball players can seek opportunities with the eight-team National Basketball Developmental League, the eight-franchise Continental Basketball Association, or the 10-team United States Basketball League. Women players can also try for positions with the four-team Women’s American Basketball Association or the six-club National Women’s Basketball League. In all, there are more than 100 professional basketball teams in existence today. Traditionally speaking, nearly all of the openings in professional basketball went to college graduates who enjoyed four-year careers in the NCAA. That has been changing in recent years, though. More undergraduate players are declaring for the NBA Draft each year, and more and more teams are snatching up these freshmen, sophomores and juniors. More recent trends have seen NBA teams select an increasing number of international players (such as China’s Yao Ming, the first selection in the 2002 NBA Draft) and high-school players (three of the first four picks in 2001 were prep stars). On the whole, it is still recommended that potential professional basketball players obtain a degree and play in the NCAA. However, if you feel you might have the talent to go pro straight from high school, contact a scout or attend a clinic for a fair, impartial evaluation of your abilities. 25

GETTING STARTED THIS IS THE CHALLENGING PART. YOU’VE BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL STAR. YOU’VE GONE

on to success in the NCAA. You have a great head for basketball, and you believe that you have pro-level talent. Even with all of this going for you, you will find difficulty landing a career in the NBA, the WNBA, or similar pro or semi-pro basketball league. The simple fact is that there just aren’t many opportunities available. Don’t lose hope, though. Be prepared, not discouraged. The road to professional basketball will be difficult but it is not impossible. The Internet is a good place to get started. Several leagues list tryout dates on their Web sites:

CBA www.cbahoopsonline.com NBWL www.nwbl.com/html/tryouts .html USBL www.usbl.com/tryouts.cfm. There are also third-party Web sites that make this information available:

TeamTryouts.com www.oursportscentral.com/teamtryouts/sport.cfm?sport=basketball International Basketball Tryouts, Camps, and Tournaments www.geocities.com/worldbasketball/camps.html Be forewarned that attendance at these clinics is exceptionally high, and few undrafted players ever land on a professional basketball team. However, do not let that discourage you from testing the waters and giving it your best shot. Anything can happen. In addition, the WABA Web site: www.womensaba.com/clinics_&_events.htm provides a list of clinics and other events that might also be helpful to female players looking to turn pro. Other leagues also hold clinics from time to time; check their Web sites for details.

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You can also check out third-party clinics, such as those provided by:

Basketball World www.basketballworld.com Champion’s Athletic Academy www.getgameatchampions.com/clinics.html. Such clinics can provide valuable insight into different styles and techniques of the professional version of basketball. They can show you how the game differs from prep or college ball. They can also help you meet pro players, coaches, and scouts. These individuals will not only be teaching you, but they will also be evaluating you. If they like what they see, they may be the contact you are looking for to help you break into the pro ranks.

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ASSOCIATIONS n Association for Professional Basketball Research www.hometown.aol.com/bradleyrd/apbr.html n Continental Basketball Association www.cbahoopsonline.com n Hoops of Hope www.hoops.org n International Basketball Federation www.fiba.com n National Basketball Association www.nba.com n National Basketball Development League www.nba.com/nbdl/ n National Basketball Players Association www.nbpa.com n National Wheelchair Basketball Association www.nwba.org n Street Basketball Association www.streetbasketballassociation.net n United States Basketball League www.usbl.com n USA Basketball www.usabasketball.com n Women’s National Basketball Association www.wnba.com n Women’s American Basketball Association www.womensaba.com n World Beach Basketball Association www.beachbasketball.com/Default.htm

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PERIODICALS n Basketball Digest www.centurysports.net/basketball/index.html n Basketball News www.basketballnews.com n Dime Magazine www.dimemag.com n Slam www.slamonline.com n Winning Hoops Newsletter www.lesspub.com/winninghoops n Women’s Basketball Magazine www.wbmagazine.com

WEB SITES n Basketball World www.basketballworld.com n CBS Sportsline NBA www.sportsline.com/nba/ n CBS Sportsline WNBA www.cbs.sportsline.com/u/basketball/wnba/index.html n Champion’s Athletic Academy www.getgameatchampions.com/clinics.html n CNNSI.com Basketball www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball n ESPN.com NBA sports.espn.go.com/nba/index n ESPN.com WNBA sports.espn.go.com/wnba/index n Fox Sports NBA www.foxsports.lycos.com/named/Index/NBA 29

n Full Court Press www.fullcourt.com n Gball Online www.gballmag.com/ n Hooptown, USA www.masslive.com/hooptown/ n Inside Hoops www.insidehoops.com n International Basketball Tryouts, Camps, and Tournaments www.geocities.com/worldbasketball/camps.html n TeamTryouts.com www.oursportscentral.com/teamtryouts/sport.cm?sport= basketball n The Sporting News NBA www.sportingnews.com/nba/ n USAToday.com Basketball www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/front.htm

COPYRIGHT 2007 Institute For Career Research CHICAGO CAREERS INTERNET DATABASE www.careers-internet.org

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