A group of current and former NBA players are looking beyond the basketball court to build their futures. Through the “Crossover Into Business” program, a partnership between the NBA and Harvard Business School, athletes are gaining valuable skills to become successful entrepreneurs and investors. This year, 11 players, including Spencer Jones of the Nuggets, are learning alongside top business students.
🎓 Learning from Real-World Business Cases
The program gives players a real taste of business school life. Together with Harvard students, they study “case studies”—detailed reports on real business challenges faced by major companies and figures. For example, they might analyze how LeBron James chose between different endorsement deals or explore a major business partnership. This helps them understand how successful companies operate and how executives make important decisions, preparing them for the business world.
💡 A Player’s Journey into Entrepreneurship
For Spencer Jones, planning for a life after basketball is essential. “These days, a career is only three to five years… so I knew I’d have to have a career afterwards,” he explained. The program has been a great opportunity for him to learn and grow his network. Jones has enjoyed meeting students and diving into the case studies, which gives him a clear idea of what it takes to succeed in business. Other players in this year’s class include Matisse Thybulle, Norman Powell, and Markieff Morris.
🤝 Building Connections and Making Investments
This isn’t Jones’s first time exploring business. He previously took part in a mentorship program where he connected with Quin Sandler, the CEO of a tech company called Plantiga. The relationship was so successful that Jones invested in the company, which makes special insoles to track athlete performance. Sandler has guided him on how to evaluate investment opportunities and connect with others in the investment community, helping Jones pursue his goal of becoming a tech investor.
🏀 Balancing On-Court and Off-Court Goals
Having a plan for the future helps Jones feel more secure and takes some pressure off his performance on the court. “One bad performance, you don’t have to feel too bad about it,” he shared. He balances his time by taking business calls or networking on LinkedIn after his team arrives at a hotel. Jones uses his status as an NBA player to open doors in the business world, all while remaining focused on his main job with the Nuggets.
