Career Path

[Peteballa]

Okay, so I'm a freshman in college. I'm currently an Economics major, because it allows me to have a fulfilling college experience while having solid job prospects at the same time. Also, business management and the economy as a whole has always been very interesting to me. Like most other freshmen, I'm not quite sure what I want to do as a career. I've been thinking about it ever since I started here, and I always come back to one thing - basketball. Obviously not as a player, that ship has sailed, but basketball is what I truly have love and passion for. I've been reading box scores and studying the game since I could walk. I live, breathe, and sleep basketball.

Put it this way - to me, the dream job would be to be an NBA GM. A slightly less "dream" job would be to simply work in the NBA office - whether it's Director of Player Personnel or simply the guy in the back room studying stats at 3 A.M, it's what I want to do above all else.

So, ISH, do you have an ideas on how I reach this lofty goal? What types of people to talk to, what organizations to join, what classes to take, what to study in my free time, or any random ideas at all? Literally any sort of feedback is appreciated.

Also, I'm not asking because I don't have any ideas of my own - I'm simply curious what an ISHer would do if they were in my position.

Thanks you guys,
Pete :cheers:

[niko]

Okay, so I'm a freshman in college. I'm currently an Economics major, because it allows me to have a fulfilling college experience while having solid job prospects at the same time. Also, business management and the economy as a whole has always been very interesting to me. Like most other freshmen, I'm not quite sure what I want to do as a career. I've been thinking about it ever since I started here, and I always come back to one thing - basketball. Obviously not as a player, that ship has sailed, but basketball is what I truly have love and passion for. I've been reading box scores and studying the game since I could walk. I live, breathe, and sleep basketball.

Put it this way - to me, the dream job would be to be an NBA GM. A slightly less "dream" job would be to simply work in the NBA office - whether it's Director of Player Personnel or simply the guy in the back room studying stats at 3 A.M, it's what I want to do above all else.

So, ISH, do you have an ideas on how I reach this lofty goal? What types of people to talk to, what organizations to join, what classes to take, what to study in my free time, or any random ideas at all? Literally any sort of feedback is appreciated.

Also, I'm not asking because I don't have any ideas of my own - I'm simply curious what an ISHer would do if they were in my position.

Thanks you guys,
Pete :cheers:
Work in the NBA office or an NBA team. Intern. Keep in mind quite a bit of the teams look for people already in the business though as players, coaches, etc.

[ace23]

Why not a player? Too much work?

[Overdrive]

Okay, so I'm a freshman in college. I'm currently an Economics major, because it allows me to have a fulfilling college experience while having solid job prospects at the same time. Also, business management and the economy as a whole has always been very interesting to me. Like most other freshmen, I'm not quite sure what I want to do as a career. I've been thinking about it ever since I started here, and I always come back to one thing - basketball. Obviously not as a player, that ship has sailed, but basketball is what I truly have love and passion for. I've been reading box scores and studying the game since I could walk. I live, breathe, and sleep basketball.

Put it this way - to me, the dream job would be to be an NBA GM. A slightly less "dream" job would be to simply work in the NBA office - whether it's Director of Player Personnel or simply the guy in the back room studying stats at 3 A.M, it's what I want to do above all else.

So, ISH, do you have an ideas on how I reach this lofty goal? What types of people to talk to, what organizations to join, what classes to take, what to study in my free time, or any random ideas at all? Literally any sort of feedback is appreciated.

Also, I'm not asking because I don't have any ideas of my own - I'm simply curious what an ISHer would do if they were in my position.

Thanks you guys,
Pete :cheers:


Does your college have a Div I team?

[Peteballa]

Does your college have a Div I team?

Yeah, UF. I was considering seeing if I could get involved with them somehow if that is where you were going with that question.

[Peteballa]

Work in the NBA office or an NBA team. Intern. Keep in mind quite a bit of the teams look for people already in the business though as players, coaches, etc.

Yeah I will end up trying to intern with an NBA team, but I bet that's a popular spot among people like myself. That's the one problem with my ambition, it's so competitive.

[Peteballa]

Why not a player? Too much work?

Not too much work, just not what I was meant to do. Barely even played on my HS team, definitely was better served focusing on education and studying as opposed to grinding in the gym trying to be the next Nate Robinson.

[B-hoop]

I would try to get an internship in a team, if i were you my first choice would be the Heat (obviously), if it isn't possible then i'd try anything that has to do with basketball even if it has nothing to do with economics as long as it is a real job (i know it sounds weird but i majored in economics and i use like 10% of what i learned in college at my job right now, even though my job has everything to do with economics). That is if you really love basketball and prefer it over economics.

[Overdrive]

Yeah, UF. I was considering seeing if I could get involved with them somehow if that is where you were going with that question.

That's cool, even some people here(some tiny country in Europe know the Gators), so I guess they're a big name in the US. Of course I had that in mind and I guess this would help your aspirations even if you just launder the jerseys.

[Peteballa]

I would try to get an internship in a team, if i were you my first choice would be the Heat (obviously), if it isn't possible then i'd try anything that has to do with basketball even if it has nothing to do with economics as long as it is a real job (i know it sounds weird but i majored in economics and i use like 10% of what i learned in college at my job right now, even though my job has everything to do with economics). That is if you really love basketball and prefer it over economics.

Yeah, that's a good plan. Having an internship with the Heat would be amazing, or even any other team... I had a family friend who actually interned with the Phoenix Suns (he's also from South Florida) and now he's climbing the ranks and in line to be the Director of Player Personnel. That's kind of what I want to do.

[I<3NBA]

you're an econ major, might think about going the field of Statistics. intern somewhere as a number cruncher and work your way up. or get a degree in Psychology or a Humanities course. try to get a job in the HR department of NBA teams and work your way up from there. you can also take up Sports Science related courses.

if you want to go the easy route, find a way to meet David Stern or Adam Silver and give them a blowjob. in the case of Stern, i have a suspicion he may want to be the one giving a blowjob. doors will open for you.

[brantonli]

Yeah, that's a good plan. Having an internship with the Heat would be amazing, or even any other team... I had a family friend who actually interned with the Phoenix Suns (he's also from South Florida) and now he's climbing the ranks and in line to be the Director of Player Personnel. That's kind of what I want to do.

I know the Rockets sometimes have good internships on offer, but they always say the same thing. the pay is crap, hours are long, and you'll need to be VERY good at computer statistical software. It's not enough to be good at the statistical theory, you need to step in and know how to use the software. Here's something to give you a good idea:

http://nbateamjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/jobs/jobs.cfm/Internships?supcat=174#58398


BASKETBALL OPERATIONS INTERN


DEPARTMENT: Basketball Operations
TYPE: Internship
REPORTS TO: Executive VP of Basketball Operations

Assist the Houston Rockets front office in answering fundamental basketball questions using the best data sets in the game. Questions are approached using a variety of mathematical and computational tools combined with basketball knowledge and intuition. Premium is placed on actionable and timely analysis. Position is an excellent opportunity for those considering a career in the NBA, sports or data analysis. The position reports to the EVP of Basketball Operations.

QUALIFICATIONS:
-Experience with varied programming languages, particularly SQL

-Experience with data analysis, statistics and/or econometrics and familiarity with commonly used statistics packages or programming languages.

-Background in mathematical or computational field are desirable but not required.

-Experience with large data sets is an advantage, as is experience with scripting languages.

-Availability to serve a one-year internship.

-Basic knowledge and familiarity of basketball and terminology

Unless you already have a major connection (your family friend with the Suns?), everybody starts out at the bottom. I know Daryl morey once said that when it became known the Rockets wanted highly stat minded people, he had guys like hedge fund managers calling him for a job and he had to turn them all down.