[Chron]NBA Players Gear Up for Retirement in Stanford Program

JuanValdez · Aug 10, 2007

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5042761.html

NBA players gear up for retirement in Stanford program

By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Mike James has spent most of the summer running, lifting weights, hitting the gym and preparing for the Rockets' 2007-08 season.

But this week, James and a handful of other NBA veterans have spent their days in classrooms at Stanford University preparing for a life after basketball in the NBA Players Association Business Opportunities Program.

The program, which features speeches and presentations from Stanford professors, investors and entrepreneurs, provides the players with tools and concepts to evaluate business opportunities.

"I know I'm not going to be able to play ball forever," said the 32-year-old James. "So this is something that is going to help me live and thrive for the rest of my life.

"I've probably been thinking about my after-basketball life since I was about 25 and trying to learn little things. But this experience, this program, has speeded things up and given me some real solid knowledge."

Other NBA players taking part are: Cuttino Mobley, Bruce Bowen, Jarron Collins, Matt Carroll, Devean George, Wayne Simien, Brevin Knight, Mark Madsen, Malik Rose and Aaron Williams.

James holds a degree in children's psychology from Duquesne University, but he said the Stanford program is providing practical tools for his post-playing career plans as a businessman.

"I want to be into everything from laundromats to car washes to car dealerships," he said. "I want to be diverse. But I also want to know what I'm doing. As players with money, we're always being approached with people who have ideas. Some of them might be good. Some of them might just be ways to get your money. After this week, I definitely feel like I can break down a business proposal better than before."

One thing James is saying yes to is optimism about the upcoming season. Despite the team's current glut of guards, he isn't worried.

"Not at all," he said. "You can never have too many fresh bodies. You can never have too much talent on your team. We're going to be up-tempo next season anyway. We're going to get to camp and be running up and down that floor like chickens with their heads cut off."

"I don't worry about the roster, about numbers, about how many guards we have. I know I've worked hard than I ever have this summer. I'm in the best shape of my career. I'm better prepared than ever. I'm back in Houston. I'm home. And I'm ready.''
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I broke my usual boycott of Fran articles to read this one because I thought it was so interesting -- the Stanford part, not the glut of guards (which is being discussed here.

I assume the NBAPA signed up with Stanford Business School's continuing studies program. Companies send employees to these things to do some training without accreditation. Good choice, since Stanford is possibly the best business school in the country. It just makes all the sense in the world to me, because they have a bunch of young men retiring from the league with a lot of money to invest but not a lot of experience in the business world or much education in how to use their money wisely. It seems too bad to me that they don't have more players participating.

alexdapooh · Aug 10, 2007

This sounds like a great program. Especially for those that were deprived of a proper college education. From the looks of that list, it looks like more players that came straight from high school need to enlist in this program ASAP.

JayZ750 · Aug 10, 2007

I think all sports do things like this. Wharton has a program with the NFL for example and a few Texans have participated in it.

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