Alright, so you wanna be a big shot NBA GM, huh? Well, listen up, ’cause it ain’t just about sittin’ around watchin’ games and yellin’ at the TV. It’s a whole lot more than that, let me tell ya.
First off, you gotta know your basketball. I mean, really know it. Not just who LeBron is, but the nitty-gritty stuff. Like, who’s good at shootin’ free throws under pressure, who can guard a fast point guard, and who’s gonna fold like a cheap lawn chair in the playoffs. You gotta see the game, understand the game, practically breathe the game.
Now, some of these fancy GMs, they played the game themselves, or they coached it. Makes sense, I guess. They been around the block, seen it all. But others, they went to college, got them fancy degrees. Sports stuff, business stuff, even law stuff. Guess that helps with all them contracts and rules they gotta deal with. And some fellas, they done a bit of everything. Worked their way up, you know?
To be a GM, you gotta be smart, real smart. But not just book smart. You gotta be people smart. Gotta talk good, gotta make decisions, gotta solve problems. Like, what do you do when your star player wants more money than Fort Knox? Or when your coach starts losin’ his mind? That’s when you earn your keep.
And speakin’ of money, being a GM can pay alright. Some of them top dogs, they makin’ millions, more money than you can shake a stick at. But most of ‘em? They ain’t gettin’ that much. Still good money, mind you, but not that crazy rich stuff. And they’re the ones handlin’ all the team’s money, makin’ sure everyone gets paid and stayin’ under that salary cap thingamajig. Sounds complicated if you ask me.
- Knowin’ basketball ain’t enough. You gotta be a leader, too. Gotta get folks to listen to you, gotta make ‘em believe in your plan.
- And you gotta be organized. Got schedules to keep, players to manage, scouts to talk to… it’s a whole mess of stuff. You can’t be scatterbrained, that’s for sure.
- Time management, they call it. I call it not wastin’ time goofin’ off.
Now, schoolin’… most of these GMs, they went to college. Got themselves a degree. Some even went on to get more learnin’ after that. Helps ‘em get them better jobs, I reckon. You see fellas studying things like communication, some kind of politics, and law even. Then some other fellas study things like business and economics. Makes sense, I guess, since they’re dealing with all that money.
Look at some of these big-name GMs. Some of ‘em played ball in college. One fella, even was a Rhodes scholar, whatever that is. Sounds fancy, though. Another guy, played ball for a bit then went to business school. They all come from different places, different backgrounds. But they all got one thing in common: they love basketball and they know how to run a team.
It ain’t an easy job, bein’ a GM. Long hours, lots of stress. You’re always on call, always gotta be thinkin’. And if your team don’t win, well, guess who gets the blame? Yep, you. But if you’re passionate about basketball, if you’re willin’ to work your tail off, and if you’re lucky enough to get a chance, well, maybe you can be an NBA GM too. Just remember what I told ya: know your stuff, be smart, be a leader, and don’t be afraid to make the tough calls. That’s all there is to it. Easy peasy, right?
Just remember, it ain’t all about the money or the fame. It’s about the love of the game. You gotta be passionate about basketball, you gotta be willing to put in the work, and you gotta be able to handle the pressure. If you can do all that, then maybe, just maybe, you got what it takes to be an NBA GM.
Tags: [NBA, General Manager, Basketball Management, Sports Career, Leadership, Decision Making, Team Management, NBA Jobs]
