5 Ways to Get Someone in the NBA to Talk to You

A little over a month ago, the NBA’s Summer League was taking place in Las Vegas.

One of the things I always tell people looking to work in the NBA is that attending NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League is an ideal place to make those connections.

At the same time, I can imagine how daunting it can be to actually get someone to talk to you when you are there.

I may have one hundred or so people reaching out to me wanting to connect when we’re there. And obviously, that’s simply not possible. I have people corner me in the hallways, hand me resumes, give me their cards, or even a flash drive with their video work on it.

Although, I appreciate and respect the hustle, if we haven’t made prior plans to meeting up, I will likely slide out of the conversation and get back to my work there.

Because, for those of who you are trying to connect with at Summer League, they are likely also coaching, scouting, or have other work responsibilities while they are there. Those who offer you time to chat and give advice are likely doing it because they’re kind, they believe in you, they want to help you out.

So how can you get to where someone wants to help you out?

1 – Get Experience

In every article I write, you’ll probably see me saying the same things… get experience. And that comes in various forms. Obviously, you need experience in the job you are looking for but it’s also experience that causes someone to look at your resume and deem you as someone they would like to chat with.

When someone reaches out who works in the G-League, WNBA, or NCAA, I do my best to get back to them.

When someone reaches out who works in business, marketing, sales, etc, I usually don’t take the time.

It’s not that those aren’t good jobs or offer valuable experience, it’s simply that the next step from those jobs aren’t likely to be in the NBA. I’m looking to help those who are a step or two away.

When I graduated from college, I wanted to work in the NBA but I didn’t know how to do it and I had no experience. But I took a scouting course, I learned how to break down some game film, and I started volunteering with my University. Those experiences led me to meet someone who could introduce me to another person who introduced me to another person who introduced me to the Video Coordinator of the Portland Trail Blazers. Get those experiences!

2 – Meet People

So back to that last part of the someone to someone to someone to someone.

I needed that opportunity volunteering at my University to get that next opportunity. But how am I supposed to get on with a D-1 basketball program? Well, I met someone by taking an on-line course who introduced me to the Head Coach of my University, Ritchie McKay. And then another person introduced me to the Video Coordinator of the Boston Celtics, Brian Adams. Brian then introduced me to the Video Coordinator of the Portland Trail Blazers, Kaleb Canales.

And then it was Kaleb and Tim Grass who ultimately hired me and gave me a job.

My first step wasn’t going to the NBA. It was getting experience and through experience I met people who could introduce me to other people.

You never know where you might meet someone who can help… or who simply can be a positive influence in your life. So don’t be afraid to volunteer, to go to conferences, to put yourself out there a bit. And don’t forget… to be likeable. Because teams are going to hire people they like, not necessarily the ones with the best resumes.

3 – Be Professional

So… you need a cold introduction so that you can try and connect with someone who then would be willing to meet up or talk with you.

It’s a lot, and it’s not easy.

Hopefully, you’ve gotten some experience. Maybe you know someone who can point you in the right direction or offer you some names.

And now you’re ready to reach out.

When someone sends me a message of 3 or more paragraphs, I’m not going to read it. It’s too long. A few sentences are fine… who are you, what do you, what do you want.

Maybe that seems a bit rigid and cold but the thing is, you’re not building a friendship with this person. Too often, people try to build friendships but those happen organically, they don’t happen over email and LinkedIn. So get to the point and purpose.

And always… ask… good… questions.

It’s really annoying when you agree to talk to someone and then they have nothing prepared. No questions, just awkward silence. I’m probably too nice to hang up, so I’ll try to carry the conversation a bit… and then never talk to you again.

And when you follow up, ask… good… questions.

Don’t follow up with, how’s the season going or what’s up?

When you follow up, bring relevant questions to your current situation. If your situation has not changed, don’t keep calling. Keep getting experience, meeting people, and be professional (not friends) with the people you’re connecting with.

Yes, I’ve become friends with many of the people I’ve spoken with but that typically happens over time and in person. But I’ve also blocked people who reach out every couple of weeks wanting to connect. Find the balance.

4 – Be Personable (not mass)

So… you’ve got experience, you’ve met some people, and you’re ready to be professional... reach out to people personably.

I had someone reach out to me recently who had a very intriguing resume. His cover letter and resume were both great. His e-mail to me was great. I planned on calling him and if that went well, I was going to give him an interview. I showed his resume to the guy sitting next to me and he said, “Oh, I got that too.” Someone else stood up, “Me too.” Another and another. He had sent the same e-mail to everyone in the office. None of us responded.

Figure out what role and department you want to work in and reach out to the 1 or 2 or 3 people in that area. Reaching out to everyone in the building is just over the top and likely to make things more difficult than needed to connect with someone.

5 – Get More Experience

Okay, you’ve got experience, you’ve met some people, you’re professional and personable… now… get more experience.

Like I said, I can’t say it enough.

I get it, most people want to get straight to the NBA. Some are lucky enough to skip some steps but most have to take every step and sometimes the same step over and over which is why you really need to decide how long it’s worth chasing.

We get so many messages from people telling us they’re the most passionate, dedicated, and will do anything.

My response, “Do it.”

“Do what?”

“Anything.”

Go volunteer. Get involved. Get real life experience.

As hard as it is to get a job in the NBA or even get someone to talk to you in the NBA, the easiest ways to make those connections are from when you work or volunteer with someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone.

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When you attend Summer League next season, hopefully you won’t have to corner someone in the hall or pass out your flash drives but you will have connected with someone previously in a professional manner who you can then meet in person when you’re there.

I hope to see you then!