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Its unexpected given the background of many of the players, but their are some really impressive entrepreneurs and businessmen among the NBA-alumni. It seems th

by dpeck 11y ago

Its unexpected given the background of many of the players, but their are some really impressive entrepreneurs and businessmen among the NBA-alumni. It seems theres not much middle ground after their playing days are done, they either go bankrupt or have fairly successful business careers. Magic Johnson Shaquille Oneil Junior Bridgeman Jamal Mashburn And plenty of other http://www.complex.com/sports/2015/06/nba-players-who-are-also-successful-businessmen/ http://www.complex.com/sports/2015/06/nba-players-who-are-al...

m52go 11y ago
"Its unexpected given the background of many of the players" Why's that? Professional athletes are some of the most disciplined and hardworking people in existence.
- thrillgore 11y ago
  Nope. http://www.npr.org/2015/01/27/381724445/how-do-some-highly-paid-athletes-go-bankrupt-theyre-risk-takers http://www.npr.org/2015/01/27/381724445/how-do-some-highly-p... See also the ESPN Documentary (a good one) called "Broke."
- glxc 11y ago
  i can't speak to their respective backgrounds, but there was an ESPN documentary not too long ago that explored the post-playing career trajectories of professional athletes for major sports Edit: ^^yeah, "Broke" that's the one
- emodendroket 11y ago
  A lot of pro athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds where they haven't really become used to managing money beyond a hand-to-mouth way of living and then all the sudden they have tons of money in their laps that seems limitless. So basically a lot of them end up burning through it all and being essentially broke after their careers end.
  - r0naa 11y ago
    I see where you are coming from but I think it's worth mentioning that a disproportionate amount of people born in the upper classes have also never had to manage their own money.
    - emodendroket 11y ago
      They have at least probably observed their parents managing money with a more long-term view.
  - giarc 11y ago
    A former NHL player wrote about this issue (getting handed a bunch of money at a young age). [1] 1. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/ http://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/
- jacquesm 11y ago
  Expertise in their core domain does not transfer to other domains and you can be as good with your body as any because of discipline and hard work it doesn't say much about how good you are going to be when the work does not involve your body.
  - jaebrown 11y ago
    Doesn't work always involve your body? Your brain is a muscle and part of your body, right? Not to mention be healthy plays a huge role in your productivity. Learning how to be discipline and focus is something all professionals of all levels work to get to and maintain. So, if they're able to transition that energy and concentration once out of the sport, it's to no surprise they'll be successful.
- adam12 11y ago
  I didn't think Magic Johnson was going to make it past the 90's.
pa5tabear 11y ago
Most NBA players actually come from middle or upper middle class backgrounds. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/in-the-nba-zip-code-matters.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/in-the-nba-...
- dpeck 11y ago
  Thanks for that link, unexpected, interesting and insightful, exactly what I hope to get from HN.
rmason 11y ago
Magic worked as a kid cleaning the office of two prominent black businessmen in Lansing. He credits their mentorship with sparking his initial interest in business. Magic's original business, a sporting goods store in Los Angeles called Magic 32, failed. It made him realize that he needed to learn more and he actively sought out mentors. Recently he was in Michigan for a charity and a young high school football star in Saginaw asked him to become his business mentor. Johnson without hesitation said yes. http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2014/04/magic_johnson_agrees_to_mentor.html http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2014/04/magic_jo...

by dpeck 11y ago

m52go 11y ago

"Its unexpected given the background of many of the players" Why's that? Professional athletes are some of the most disciplined and hardworking people in existence.

thrillgore 11y ago
Nope. http://www.npr.org/2015/01/27/381724445/how-do-some-highly-paid-athletes-go-bankrupt-theyre-risk-takers http://www.npr.org/2015/01/27/381724445/how-do-some-highly-p... See also the ESPN Documentary (a good one) called "Broke."
glxc 11y ago
i can't speak to their respective backgrounds, but there was an ESPN documentary not too long ago that explored the post-playing career trajectories of professional athletes for major sports Edit: ^^yeah, "Broke" that's the one
emodendroket 11y ago
A lot of pro athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds where they haven't really become used to managing money beyond a hand-to-mouth way of living and then all the sudden they have tons of money in their laps that seems limitless. So basically a lot of them end up burning through it all and being essentially broke after their careers end.
- r0naa 11y ago
  I see where you are coming from but I think it's worth mentioning that a disproportionate amount of people born in the upper classes have also never had to manage their own money.
  - emodendroket 11y ago
    They have at least probably observed their parents managing money with a more long-term view.
- giarc 11y ago
  A former NHL player wrote about this issue (getting handed a bunch of money at a young age). [1] 1. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/ http://www.theplayerstribune.com/the-new-avery-rule/
jacquesm 11y ago
Expertise in their core domain does not transfer to other domains and you can be as good with your body as any because of discipline and hard work it doesn't say much about how good you are going to be when the work does not involve your body.
- jaebrown 11y ago
  Doesn't work always involve your body? Your brain is a muscle and part of your body, right? Not to mention be healthy plays a huge role in your productivity. Learning how to be discipline and focus is something all professionals of all levels work to get to and maintain. So, if they're able to transition that energy and concentration once out of the sport, it's to no surprise they'll be successful.
adam12 11y ago
I didn't think Magic Johnson was going to make it past the 90's.

pa5tabear 11y ago

Most NBA players actually come from middle or upper middle class backgrounds. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/in-the-nba-zip-code-matters.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/in-the-nba-...

dpeck 11y ago
Thanks for that link, unexpected, interesting and insightful, exactly what I hope to get from HN.

rmason 11y ago

Magic worked as a kid cleaning the office of two prominent black businessmen in Lansing. He credits their mentorship with sparking his initial interest in business. Magic's original business, a sporting goods store in Los Angeles called Magic 32, failed. It made him realize that he needed to learn more and he actively sought out mentors. Recently he was in Michigan for a charity and a young high school football star in Saginaw asked him to become his business mentor. Johnson without hesitation said yes. http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2014/04/magic_johnson_agrees_to_mentor.html http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2014/04/magic_jo...