Best Basketball Careers To Consider If You Want to Go Pro
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. There are many different careers that are available to those who love the game. Below you’ll find a list of careers that will inspire you to stay involved with the game even if you don’t go pro.
1: Players
Playing basketball professionally is a dream every basketball player has, but so few can achieve it. However, did you know that you could play professionally in other countries? There are leagues all over the world, and if you’re a good player, you could make a lot of money playing in them.
Just because you weren’t drafted, doesn’t mean your basketball life is over. Continue to work at your game and make connections with coaches and scouts. This could lead to a lucrative contract in Europe, Australia, or even China!
Not to mention the G-League, the NBA’s development league, where teams can watch you play and call you up to the big league if you show them you’re worthy.
2: Coaches
If you love the game of basketball and want to teach others how to play, coaching is the perfect career for you. There are many different levels of coaching and it’s a great way to stay involved in the game.
If you are a natural leader or enjoy teaching the game, coaching may be perfect for you. Coaches are needed on every level, and creating a strong resume of coaching could lead to greater opportunities at every level.
Coaching is way more than teaching drills and skills, it is a comprehensive molding of players and teams into a winning culture. This will include creating plays, discipline, and recruiting.
Pro tip: A college degree will multiply your chances of success in the coaching field.
3: Analytics
Basketball is a sport that relies heavily on statistics. If you’re interested in working with numbers and analyzing them, this could be the career for you.
In the modern game, statistics and analytics hold a very exciting new field that math majors are taking advantage of. One game could generate thousands of numbers that can be analyzed and broken down to see who performed the best and who may need improvement.
You’ll work directly with the coaching staff to apply those numbers to the team and to future games. You may also be tasked with analyzing players that may become a part of the team in the future.
If you love numbers and the practical application of numbers to basketball, we definitely recommend this field.
4: Media professionals
Many people think of journalists as reporters who write about newsworthy events. However, there are also other types of journalists who work on sports stories or cover basketball games. This is a profession that requires quick thinking and good writing skills.
Most media outlets have dedicated writers for teams or leagues that dole out the minutiae of players and coaches. You could earn your press pass which would allow you access to interview these same players and coaches.
If you have an eye for interesting stories and a penchant for writing those stories down, look for a career path within the media.
5: Managers
If you have a passion for basketball and want to work with players or coaches, becoming a manager may be the best option for you. A manager is responsible for everything from recruiting new players to making sure the team is run efficiently.
Team managers can be responsible for equipment, jerseys, and making sure there are plenty of basketballs for practice. Your job would be to take the small stuff off the plate of the coaches and let them focus on making the players better.
While team manager may seem like an entry-level runaround type position, your passion for basketball would keep you around the game and the players that you admire. Professional teams always need managers and you could spend a lifetime around basketball.
If basketball is your passion and you want to work in a field where you are constantly interacting with people, a career as a team manager may be the right fit for you.
6: Trainers
If you have a strong desire to heal and help others, plus a love for basketball, combine those loves and become a trainer. Trainers are responsible for helping players rehab from injuries, ensuring that they stay hydrated and fed during their rehabilitation, and working with the coaching staff to make sure the players are ready for game day.
As a trainer you would have access to the team’s medical records, so you could know everything about each player on the team. You would also be responsible for keeping track of all of the player’s stats so that you can give feedback to the coaching staff and suggest ways to improve the team.
If you have a passion for healing others and want to help others achieve their best performance, a career as a trainer may be right for you.
7: Referees
Whoah hold up, you may be saying, doesn’t everyone hate the refs?! While this professional does occasionally catch the ire of fans, coaches, and players, it can also be a rewarding career.
A referee is a professional who officiates basketball games worldwide. They are responsible for ensuring that all rules are followed during the game and that all players are treated fairly.
As a referee, you would be expected to have excellent communication skills, as you will be required to talk to both players and coaches during the game. You must also be able to make quick decisions, as refs often have to make calls in a hurry.
A career in officiating can be rewarding and worthwhile. The best referees don’t leave a “mark” on the game. In other words, the best officiating shouldn’t interfere with the flow of the game.
Imagine a life of being on the court with the best players in the world and having them complain directly to you!
8: Scouts
Team scouts are responsible for tracking the progress of basketball players around the world. They are employed by NBA teams, although there are also independent scouts working in the sport.
Scouts are responsible for monitoring a player’s development and performance over time. This means that they will be looking for any concerning signs – such as drops in performance or behavior changes – in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to draft a player.
As a scout, you are expected to have excellent writing and analytical skills. You will need to be able to quickly assess data and make decisions accordingly.
A career in scouting can be very rewarding. Not only do you get to watch talented basketball players develop, but you can also help guide teams towards signing the best possible players.
Scouts could move on to more financially rewarding careers in a professional team’s front office.
9: Marketing
Most professional basketball leagues and teams require an entire team to market the games and team to the public at large. This goes for all the pro sports! As a marketing professional you would be responsible for driving attendance to games, fun promotions that fans enjoy, and producing marketing videos and publishing.
In order to become a marketing director, you would need at least two years of experience in a related field. You would also need strong writing and communication skills as well as the ability to plan and execute complex campaigns.
There are many opportunities for marketing directors in the basketball world. They can work for large or small organizations and be based in either North America or Europe.
Pro tip: Marketing and Marketing directors usually require a college degree.
Conclusion
These are a few of the most common careers involving basketball. You would never need to leave the game if you can find a way into one of these fields. If you love playing the game, watching the game, or generally being around players and coaches, these jobs may be for you.
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