Transitioning from the court to life after basketball can be challenging for NBA players. As Charles Barkley once said to a retiring teammate as he left the locker room after the last game of the season: “That’s the doorway to the real world.”
It’s true that there’s nothing like being a pro athlete. But it doesn’t last forever. A lot of players segue into coaching. But that’s not for everyone. Some, like Michael Finley, learn the ropes of the front office toward becoming a shot-caller for a franchise’s basketball operations.
Others, like Dirk Nowitzki, immerse themselves in business and philanthropy.