“I attended Sports Business Classroom as a star-struck, 19-year-old kid. It sounds cliché, but the program truly did change my outlook on basketball. Sports Business Classroom gives you the exposure, curriculum, and connections to better understand what working in basketball truly entails and the work you need to put in to “make it” in the league.”
Buddy Scott, Boston Celtics
“Sports Business Classroom, specifically the Salary Cap Management/Executive Session track helped prepare me for my journey through an NBA G League Front Office and equipped me with the necessary knowledge to be successful.”
Amber Nichols, Washington Wizards
“SBC is a factory there is a lot of great people, a lot of great talent that comes out of there into the NBA. It’s because we get exposed to each other and we get the chance to work on these workshops together.”
Tommy Sheppard, Executive Leadership Coach / Former NBA Executive
“Working with Sports Business Classroom, this is always one of the most gratifying weeks of the entire year for me. Love teaching. Really energetic, really smart students. They ask great questions and it’s just fun seeing them in action, getting them interviews with various NBA figures, covering games, watching them, getting their first interview scrum.
It’s just a lot of fun for me and all the instructors absolutely love it.“
Howard Beck, The Ringer
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of SBC since it’s inception.
It’s an amazing opportunity for people to get great first-hand experience in basketball, learn from some of the top people in their fields and just soak in being in being around all of the basketball activities in Vegas.
When I look for hard-working individuals who want to work in basketball and go the extra mile in doing so, SBC is the perfect place to find that.”
Dennis Rogers, Los Angeles Clippers / Intuit Dome
“It was my first time producing anything and I learned so much in such a short amount of time. Special thanks to all our instructors and guest speakers who shared valuable information about all aspects of the league. Specializing in the media and broadcasting part of the program, I was exposed to many sides of the industry.”
Erica Brunson, CAA
“Attending SBC23 in Las Vegas was an amazing experience for me… Exchanged thoughts and ideas with very interesting individuals during the program.
Everyone is willing to work hard, that’s not surprising anyone anymore, what you need is to acquire new skills that will differentiate you from the rest. Remember, It’s not always about what you learn, but who you learn from.
Can’t thank everyone enough at SBC, extremely thankful for the opportunity.”
Tornike Shengelia, EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA)
“Sports Business Classroom was an incredible experience. Though we were unable to meet in person, the curriculum, the varying perspectives from industry experts, and SBC network was second to none. I strongly recommend the program for anyone looking to build a network of like-minded people trying to make a living within hoops.
I can’t wait to grow and continue to cross paths with the SBC team and classmates for years to come!”
- Makar Gevorkian
“Who we were especially lucky to have, though, were 20 of some of the most curious and insightful Media & Broadcast students that have come through the program (in addition to an intensely driven group of 140 students, total).
Every day I was impressed by their willingness to try new things. This was a group happy to get out of their comfort zones, and took to heart our (oftentimes) repetitive advice that to thrive in the sports media industry you have to do and be good at a little bit of everything. I always come away from what is a demanding eight days inspired, and this year I feel especially motivated by this wonderful group to take my own advice.”
Katie Heindl, Award-Winning Writer
“Study hard what interests you the most! Thanks to the Sports Business Classroom crew for selecting me to participate in a deep dive course on the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) & National Basketball Association (NBA) salary cap and business of professional basketball.
Not only have I developed my knowledge, but met extraordinary people!”
Hubert Radke, NBPA & FIBA Certified Agent
“I was exposed to the world of basketball while learning about media and production, scouting, NBA salary cap, video analytics, and front office operations, all while participating in an NBA mock trade where we in the media covered it live, just like the real thing.
I had the chance to grow in media and broadcast by conducting on-air sit-down interviews, covering live games through writing, and speaking with legendary voices in the industry like Mark Jones, and rising athletes like Yuki Kawamura and Javon Freeman-Liberty…
But more than anything, I walk away with new mentors, friendships, and memories that I will forever hold onto.”
Amira Elqorchi
“It’s hard to capture the depth of what this program delivers each and every year – insider access, applied pressure, and elite-level conversations with the people who actually run the game. From trade simulation war rooms, to sideline chats with scouts and execs, our Deakin University cohort didn’t just attend … they immersed.”
Pete Williams, Deakin University
“I left my nearly decade-long career in finance to pursue the industry I always dreamed of working in. Safe to say its been the best decision I ever made professionally and my time at the SBC has only amplified my enthusiasm“
Akash Prinja, Pivot Sportswear
“SBC was truly the launching point for my career, giving me the confidence in my knowledge and networking skills to kickstart my career in and around the NBA.”
Jeff Siegel, Klutch Sports
“This is an incredible opportunity because you get to meet all kinds of people that are actually in the business. You get to hear from people that are in the business. You get to hear from people that, you know, are working for an independent boutique, their own agency. You get to hear from people that are working for big agencies. You get to be around, Eric and Bobby and like just unbelievable group of people that can give insight into every aspect of the world…
All these worlds are complex…You think about Bobby, Bobby’s been in the front office. You can get all these insights and then make informed decisions and be able to kind of propel yourself into it.”
EJ Kusnyer, NBPA & FIBA Certified Agent
“As part of this year’s immersive program, I had the chance to learn and dive into the business of basketball in multiple areas. As part of the media and broadcasting section, I watched countless NBA Summer League games, participated in multiple post game shows, wrote stories, did some play-by-play coverage from those games as well as learned from some of the very best in the business.
This experience was truly rewarding.”
Wilton Jackson, Sports Reporter
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What a blessing it is to still be surrounded by sports. This time not as an athlete, but in a capacity where I get to help others chase their dreams in this industry I love. Being part of something this meaningful is a reminder that our impact on others serves as our greatest purpose.
My role included leading the one-on-one meetings between our 140 students and professionals across the NBA/sports industry. This was no easy feat as this task is of one of the most anticipated aspects of the SBC experience. I planned, organized, and matched students with executives, GMs, agents, coaches, etc. I’m grateful to have built relationships in the industry that made it all possible, and loved how they poured into our students.“
Colleen Finney, NIL Coordinator
“Immediately upon entering the Thomas & Mack Center, I was immersed in a unique situation where I could network and learn concurrently through the scouting, video, and analytics major.
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made!”
Alexandra Louin, University of Richmond
“What an amazing experience coming to Sports Business Classroom. Being around some great individual minds from all different backgrounds has me excited for my next journey.
The connections are real and one thing we all have in common is WE LOVE SPORTS!”
Orlando Johnson, Washington State University
“From the guest speakers to the hands-on experiences, this week was unforgettable. I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry, includingJulie Fie, Commissioner Adam Silver, AJ Dybantsa,Garth Glissman, Mike Fratello, AJ Adande, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim — just to name a few.
Even more impactful was getting to connect with so many passionate, driven people who share my love for basketball and the business behind it.
One of the highlights of the week was working with a team of SBC students to complete a mock NBA trade. It was a fun and challenging experience that pushed me to think strategically and collaborate under pressure.
Grateful for this experience and excited to keep learning and growing in the world of sports!“
Katilyn Lowe
“This program gave me a chance to learn from and network with people who work in and around the NBA.
You get great behind the scenes stories and perspectives from front office personnel that you really won’t get anywhere else.
The people involved in Sports Business Classroom have gone above and beyond in helping me grow professionally even after the program was over.”
Liam Doyle , Miami Heat
“Attending Sports Business Classroom was a life-changing experience for me. I had high expectations coming into the week, but I was astounded by the content of the programming, the amount of one-on-one contact that I had with team/league personnel, and the camaraderie that I experienced with the other SBC attendees.
I left the program completely energized and have received a number of great opportunities through the connections that I made. If you love the NBA and want to work for the league, a team or a media outlet, I strongly recommend that you come to SBC. “
Calida Taylor
“I wanted to see how my past sports experience in other leagues — and my love of basketball — could translate into the business of the NBA. But my experience with the Sports Business Classroom at this year’s NBA Summer League in Vegas reinforced so many things I loved.
It was about people and relationships, especially working in a structured format that mirrored the NBA ecosystem. It wasn’t just informative. It was inspiring to be around people of all ages, from different countries, walks of life and career paths like mine.”
Vipul Thakker, FC Cincinnati
“SBC means the world to me, and getting to teach as part of the Scouting, Video, and Analytics major was truly a privilege and an honor. In this role, I sat on a panel with other brilliant basketball minds to discuss different lenses of scouting, taught an hour-long solo lecture on “Combining Video & Analytics”, and had multiple individual office hour sessions with students.
This new role was extremely rewarding and while I thoroughly enjoyed sharing knowledge where I could, I also learned just as much from the experience and from the students, as they did from me! It was a pleasure to meet so many new connections in the hoops world & to lend a helping hand where I could”
Connor Wolf, HD Intelligence
“It’s hard to put into words how great this experience was. I learned so much and met so many fantastic people. Over the span of a week we went from a class of strangers to a small family, with the help of the phenomenal staff at SBC.
I never could have imagined this week to be as great as it was. Feeling a little somber that it is over, but so grateful it happened.”
Alexander Gialamas, Kalamata FC
“Grateful for the Unforgettable experience with Sports Business Classroom.
The knowledge and insights gained during this event were truly exceptional. The opportunity to learn from industry experts and network with like-minded professionals in the sports business world was invaluable.
A special thank you to all the organizers, speakers, and mentors who made this class possible.”
Brandon Green, Atlanta Gladiators
“The Sports Business Classroom has been the experience of a lifetime. The amount of insight I’ve gained, the networking, the contacts, and just the really fantastic people that we’ve had an opportunity to hear from, meet, and learn from has been indescribable.
Anyone interested in getting a position in a front office with an NBA team should come to this program.
It’s been incredible. It’s impossible to beat this.”
Dave DuFour, The Athletic
“Sports Business Classroom is geared towards anyone who’s trying to break into the business of basketball and really doesn’t matter where you are in your career.
We think that it can be really helpful both in terms of connections that you can make, the lessons you can learn from just our incredible list of speakers that we have, our incredible list of guests.
The contacts that you can make, the access that you have to meet people in the business of basketball- it’s really fantastic for someone who’s at any stage of their career development.”
Nate Duncan, Dunc'd On Podcast
“I can honestly say this was one of the best, most inspiring weeks of my entire life that I’ll never forget but it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of people.
This is an experience I’ll never forget. I’m so happy to have met everyone and look forward to keeping in touch.”
Skyler Trepel, Best-Selling Author / People Magazine & Entertainment Weekly
“SBC catapulted my professional career in Puerto Rico and proved that if I kept grinding I could accomplish my dream job, which is to become the first Puerto Rican to land a job in the NBA offices and help the league grow its presence within Latin America.”
Edgar Vargas, Genius Sports
“As someone looking to break into the player management and brand management side of this business, the front office and salary cap lessons have been a wonderful start to this journey.”
Ali Shafique, NBPA Certified Agent
“SBC is truly one of the most rich educational and networking experiences for young professionals looking to enter this space. Particularly for international people looking to establish meaningful connections in the US, its exposure to decision makers is unmatched.”
Vasileios Xagoraris
“This program not only gives you the proper guidance, but every tool you could possibly need to pursue that passion.
SBC provided me with an incredible framework on scouting and the CBA along with exposure to an incredible variety of people in the industry making it the best networking event you can imagine.”
Davis Driever, Underdog
“I was a scholarship recipient from the Chris Paul Family Foundation for the Sports Business Classroom this year!
This experience was full of great people and I was blessed to be able to see a glimpse of what I will do with a career in Sports Broadcasting.”
Faith LeMelle
“When I made the decision to attend SBC in 2021, I had some reservations about whether or not the program was truly ‘worth it.’ But almost immediately after arriving, I realized that this could be a game-changer for a career in sports. Beyond the incredible skills and connections I gained during my week in Las Vegas, the mentorship I’ve received since has been extremely valuable. And it has directly led to the success I’ve had in the sports industry.”
Ron Gutterman, NBA
“It was a pleasure to connect with so many likeminded individuals. Sports Business Classroom is a platform which allowed me the opportunity to build rapport with the basketball community in a professional setting.
I have been fully invested in a future career at the next level but this experience was unbelievable for me. Forever grateful and I’m looking forward to growing as a coach/scout and mental health professional within this field to assist players and businesses with bettering themselves.”
Taneé Denson-Griffin
“The schedule is packed with opportunities to learn from innovators throughout multiple fields in the basketball industry; it’s a chance to demonstrate to yourself and prospective employers your commitment to your passion for basketball.
Most importantly, it is a chance to embed yourself within a group of hoops-minded students and form long-lasting relationships that extend beyond the professional realm.”
Connor Williamson, NBA
“The Sports Business Class came highly recommended, but it exceeded all of my expectations.
It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to be fully emerged in the game itself, while also interacting with decision-makers at every level of the NBA.
I learned so much from the instructors, speakers, and my peers. If you love the game of basketball, there is no better place to spend a week.”
Virginia Woodfork
“One of the greatest experiences of my life. I could not be more grateful for all the connections and great people that I met along the way. Attending Sports Business Classroom has me more motivated than ever.
My team and I were blessed to place second amongst all groups, where we presented our teams goals and future outlook of our franchise to a panel of former NBA front office executives. An opportunity of a lifetime, immeasurable experience, and I could not be more blessed to have participated.”
Jailon Bates, BSN Sports
“The speakers at Sports Business Classroom were unbelievable, the best people in every industry.
Just being around people that I’ve watched on TV watch from afar and admired is something that’s been invaluable and I’ll remember for a long time.
You’re just put in a room with 65 other people that are just as passionate about basketball as you are.”
Connor Weingarten
“From the curriculum to the access that you get, to meeting all these NBA personnel to just the overall atmosphere here, it’s a natural high.
The highlight of the week was meeting Commissioner Adam Silver. We met Adrian Wojnarowski, and then we met some of the coaches like Rick Carlisle and Mike D’Antoni.
It has been amazing to get their perspective on breaking into the league. So if you love basketball this is the place to be.”