Front Office Blueprint: How Build A Career In The NBA
When most people picture a career in the NBA, they think about draft picks, locker rooms, or perfecting your jump shot. But in today's league, many of the key power players are also off the court. The business of the league is often intricate, relationship-built, and nuanced. Advancement in this career often requires an understanding of the language of budgets, collective bargaining agreements, and the roles of all those involved to keep the league running and growing.
During NBA Summer League, two programs paved this career path for those aspiring to be among the next generation of NBA leadership. The first was the Sports Business Classroom, a front office training program held during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The second was Sports Management Worldwide, a global mentorship and training platform for aspiring sports professionals. Both speak to the growing desire for young people to learn the ins and outs of league operation and leadership.
Learn to Think Like a Front Office
Bobby Marks
At Sports Business Classroom, students get exposure to the spectrum of front office scenarios. They get a glimpse of how to negotiate trades, analyze salary cap constraints, and respond to live roster challenges. This peels back the curtain on the intricate world of business in sports and how to navigate it successfully from veterans in the field.
'This is year two for me as the lead instructor at Sports Business Classroom,' said Bobby Marks, ESPN analyst and former Assistant GM of the Brooklyn Nets. 'Prior to this year, we had three majors students could choose from: Salary Cap, Scouting and Video Analytics, and Media and Broadcast.'
'This year, we added a fourth major, Athlete Representation and NIL, based on industry trends. We maxed out at 140 students. We started on Monday with speakers like Sam Presti, Kenny Atkinson, and Austin Reaves sharing how they broke into sports.'
Marks described a surprise moment that raised the bar for the entire week.
'The Commissioner himself showed up. Adam Silver dropped by our Sunday reception, which was unexpected. We weren't banking on that. But it really sets the tone. Summer League is like Disneyland for NBA people.'Mena Mirhom & Bobby Marks
He specializes in breaking down the intricacies of the salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), from how the second apron restricts team spending to the nuances of player extensions and other complex financial structures within the league. 'I love teaching what's right about the CBA and bringing it to life with real-world examples,'He also hosts early-morning office hours for students to allow for engaging question and answer sessions that go beyond the didactic content of the conference.
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Marks said,
The younger me would tell me to learn how to write. I didn't really learn until I was 42, and now I'm ten years into working in media. But bigger than that, I'd say take advantage of opportunity. There are so many people willing to help. If you go through this week without asking questions, networking, or talking to people, it'll be a wasted week.
The Right Mentor Can Make All The Difference
While SBC focuses on immersive application, Sports Management Worldwide is designed to help understand all aspects of sports management through education and mentorship. I met with their leadership to understand that in order to fully develop the tools for career advancement as a sports agent or sports executive, there are a few key principles that carry you along the way. The language of the leagues, relationships with key influencers, and proper mentorship are all essential skills to develop. But above all, as is noted in the Harvard Business Review, a great mentor will focus on helping develop you as a person not just developing your career.
Lynn LashbrookLynn and Liz Lashbrook
Founded by Lynn Lashbrook, EdD, in 2002, it offers more than 40 specialized eight-week courses ranging from basketball front office to sports analytics and agent certification with over 30,000 alumni across 164 countries. All programs feature live interactive mentorship via Zoom and provide ongoing networking opportunities through an established global ambassador network. Graduates hold roles in every major professional league from the NBA and NFL to MLS and NHL, demonstrating the organization's global reach and practical impact.
Lynn and Liz have been able to create a global community that is focused, specialized and effective in empowering the next generation of agents and executives in sports leagues around the world. Lynn discussed with me the passion of taking this work nationally and globally to fill a critical gap that currently exists in higher education. A key demographic they intend to uplift are veterans who seek to obtain the skills to work in the sports world.
The business of sports is seeing a revolution of opportunity. For example, we're working closely to get military veterans to work with us through the GI bill. You can feel the ethical electricity in our courses. We want to democratize opportunities to work in sports. For us, transparency is the vaccine for corruption. So many people can be great mentors, but you just don't have the keys to get into the locker room.
Speaker Spotlight
Khalia Collier
During SMWW, I sat down with Khalia Collier, Vice President and Chief of Staff of Basketball Operations for the Dallas Mavericks. As a seasoned executive and entrepreneur, she spoke candidly to the conference audience about the essential tools for career growth in professional sports.
'I'd tell myself to trust my gut more, but more importantly, to cultivate discernment,' she said.
Trusting your gut is critical, but discernment is what helps you filter through who really has your best interest at heart. At 23, I didn't have as much of that as I do now. Better discernment could've saved me from a lot of trial and error, helped me invest my time more wisely, and surround myself with the right people.'When asked whether discernment can be taught, she replied, 'You can't teach failure or struggle, and I don't think you can directly teach discernment either. But you can teach people how to navigate tough moments. How to build resilience, consistency, and determination. Discernment comes from observing, from listening more and talking less. When people show you who they are, believe them.'
Emotional Intelligence Is Not Optional
Khalia also spoke about what she listens for when evaluating potential partnerships. 'I listen for genuineness. I try to ask questions that uncover the other person's motives. What are they trying to get out of the relationship? Is this a transactional situation or is there potential for long-term mutual benefit?'
Sustainable partnerships come from shared interests. You both need to understand what the other is trying to accomplish. That's when real win-win scenarios happen.In both programs, this kind of emotional intelligence is treated as essential. It is not a bonus skill. It is a hiring filter. In a league where relationships are everything, understanding motive and energy is just as critical as understanding data.
Why This Matters Now
The NBA is evolving. Teams are investing in even more analytics, performance science, player mental health, and global talent pipelines. Technical fluency is the starting point. What sets professionals apart is clarity, poise, and mindset under pressure.
Programs like SBC and SMWW are more than career accelerators. They are readiness platforms. They do not just open doors. They prepare people to walk through them with confidence, clarity, and leadership presence.
The Bottom Line
You do not need to have played in the NBA to work in it. But you do need preparation to understand the language of the league. Understanding the system and structure can be the difference maker when pursuing a career in professional sports.
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