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While basketball is and will always be at the heart of the NBA, a lot more goes into this billion-dollar business than just dribbling the rock and putting it into the basket. This is where many young players stumble and make mistakes, believing they can handle everything required to become a successful pro hooper.
According to 14-year veteran Draymond Green, those who enter the pro ranks must understand that no man is an island; the NBA has a complex system that many veterans find difficult to navigate. So, one can imagine how overwhelming this can be for young men experiencing it for the very first time.
Dray believes AJ is ready
Dray recently recorded his podcast at Fanatics Fest and featured this year's top pick, AJ Dybantsa. After spending time with the 6'9" forward who will be playing for the Washington Wizards, Green came away with a sense that the young stud will do just fine in his first year in the big league, thanks in part to the team that he has behind him, led by his father, Ace.
"I think Ace and AJ has been prepared for this for a while. Like I said, to hear him say, 'We got a team behind us,' was beautiful," Green shared. "I was sharing with him, like, 'Hey man, make sure y'all ask questions because, like I said, I think his father would do great, but it's still new, still the first time.' There's just some mistakes that comes with things being your first time that they don't have to make."
The NBA can be like traversing a maze if one doesn't have the right information. Draymond added that they should try to lean on trustworthy people who have experience navigating NBA life.
"I think several people would be willing to give them the game and the knowledge and expertise on it," Green remarked. "But also, like I said, hearing him say, 'No, I'm learning the business too,' I think is very important."
The intricate business of the NBA
Young people who enter the NBA often entrust their extracurriculars to people they have met. At times, it could be an uncle; other times, it could be a close friend he grew up with. However, Green emphasized that doing so is a massive mistake, as it takes far more than just a few friends and family members to understand how the league works.
"So many guys come through the NBA and don't understand the business of basketball, the business of the NBA. To me, it hinders players as they continue on in their career. It hinders us as a collective when you're talking about the players, when guys don't understand the business," Green asserted.
"Oftentimes players, they think, 'Oh man, I can have my boy or I can have this person do my stuff.' And it's like, 'No, man.' There's expertise that goes with this. This isn't just like, 'Oh, now your son is here, your friend is here, you can do the job that someone else that's been prepared, trained, and developed to do these jobs, take on these responsibilities,'" Dray furthered. "You often times see people think they can just insert someone in to do that, and it's so wrong."
It's totally understandable why players want to focus on hooping, as that is truly the main thing. However, it's also a must for them to take the time to understand the business and how it operates, as this could help them not just last longer but also thrive.
Related: Draymond Green visibly confused by Warriors rookie's "pointless" pitch to LeBron James
