Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Basketball Player

What They Do

Athletes and Sports Competitors Career Video

Insider Info

Do you have the skills, talent and attitude to be a basketball player? In North America, both men and women have leagues that offer them a shot at the big time.

The major men's basketball league is the National Basketball Association (NBA), which has two conferences. The Eastern Conference has the Atlantic, Southeast and Central Divisions, and the Western Conference has the Pacific, Northwest and Southwest Divisions. There are currently 30 teams in the NBA.

The NBA Development League (NBA D-League) and the Continental Basketball Association are both minor leagues. Another minor league is the United States Basketball League (USBL), which is a summer league.

Women's basketball is also popular. The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional league. There are 12 teams in the league.

How are new players drafted in professional basketball? Let's look at the NBA. "Playoff teams get draft choices based on their record -- best team last. There's a weighted lottery for all teams not going to the playoffs," explains talent scout Dean Oliver.

"The worst team has the best chances for the top pick.... They only draw three teams, which get the top three picks in the order drawn. The remainder of all teams are ordered in inverse order of their record."

Basketball players require ability, experience and technical knowledge of the sport. Players practice every day, lift weights, participate in exhibition games and play regular season games.

In women's basketball, it helps to be tall, but height alone won't keep you in the game. More specifically, you need good coordination, speed (both vertical and lateral), balance, aggressiveness, reflexes and good hands.

"Physically, you have to take care of yourself," says basketball player Carol Ann Shudlick. "You have to eat the right foods and get plenty of rest."

Alli Bills is a third assistant coach. "For women, the opportunities have grown because they now have professional basketball in America," she says.

However, opportunities are more plentiful overseas, for both men and women. "The opportunity to play over there is actually pretty good," says Bills.

Basketball players find overseas work through an agent with international contacts. "Once they've played over there, other teams might recruit them directly without going through the agent," explains Bills. She adds that overseas work doesn't pay well, but it's a great experience.

At a Glance

Get paid to play

  • There are about 400 players in the NBA
  • With TV dollars backing the NBA, players' salaries will continue to climb
  • It helps to be tall, but you also need good coordination and speed

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.