The NBPA introduces speed dating to help NBA players become executives

Speed dating is what they called it. But it was more like speed mentoring.

The National Basketball Player Association gathered 20 men and one woman to better equip them to extend their basketball careers beyond the court. According to NBPA.com,
coaches and front office execs came together to evaluate these athletes as a part of the Fifth Annual Leadership Development Program.

Futures in the Front Office. 20-plus current and former players descended upon Las Vegas this week for the NBPA's Leadership Development Program, where they learned about the full makeup of the NBA's front office world, including GMs, scouts, agents and more, and met NBA front office senior management. Here, Tommy Sheppard, the Wizards' Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, interacts with some of the players, including (from L to R): George Lynch, Drew Gooden, Alan Anderson, Keith Bogans and Brian Cook.

A photo posted by NBPA (@thenbpa) on Jul 14, 2016 at 5:32pm PDT

The skills these 11 club executives looked out for were those that couldn’t be found within the key or beyond the perimeter. They couldn’t be measured by a ruler or a shot clock. But they are found in the huddle – where important information needs to be communicated effectively and efficiently.

The event called for the players to pitch themselves to the front office personnel within three minutes time. Participants traded career aspirations and honest assessments when engaged in their seats at the U-shaped assembly of tables in the Vinoly Grand Ballroom of the Vdara Hotel. As the final event of the LDP, the NBA alumni and current players used all of the experience they gained throughout the week to offer realistic front office goals they hope to realize.

GMs in Training. NBA players Alan Anderson (@dubblea74), Garrett Temple (@gtemp17) and former pro Darnell Jackson deliberate on summer league players during a mock draft exercise in Las Vegas. It's part of the NBPA's annual Leadership Development Program, which facilitates education and opportunities in the NBA's front office field.

A photo posted by NBPA (@thenbpa) on Jul 13, 2016 at 7:40pm PDT

Players for this year’s cohort included former WNBA All-Star Adrienne Goodsen, Garrett Temple, Alan Anderson and Beno Udrih, and the retirees included Keith Bogans, Greg Buckner, Derrick Byars, Brian Cook, Michael Hall, Junior Harrington, David Hawkins, Darnell Jackson, DerMarr Johnson, Fat Lever, George Lynch, Bostjan Nachbar, Mamadou N’Diaye, Milt Palacio, Sean Singletary, Awvee Storey and James White.

Keep an eye on this group, as former participants have gone on to land positions in front offices across the NBA and D-League. Current Lakers head coach Luke Walton serves as an example. While this doesn’t guarantee success to the future scouts, coaches, player personnel and general managers, their experience definitely prepares them for the transition they are about to take.