The harsh reality of becoming an NBA player and pro athlete.

Before I continue, be warned, especially the youngsters I know that read the posts. this is going to be a very real article and a real shake down of reality. Everything i write about will be from personal experience and extensive research.

Let's go

The realities of making the nba or becoming a pro athlete are never truly revealed to most athletes, especially at high school level. But again, you can’t be perfect but what’s wrong with chasing perfection. So if this article disheartens you, you aren’t ready to go pro.

Get ready for some math as well... because in 2018 there was an estimated 551373 male high school athletes, let’s say they’re all American residents. Those 551373 athletes are all fighting for the best Division 1 school offer I.e. Duke, Kentucky, North carolina etc. but there are an estimated 2197 College teams across all divisions (D-1 – Junior College). If all those colleges have a maximum 15 man squad that’s 32955 athletes already on the college circuit, not give or take an average of 2 players per team are leaving for either NBA or graduating that leaves 4394 spots available on rosters for over 2000 schools. So thats 551373 players playing for scholarships because colleges cost anywhere from $20 000 to $46 000 if not more. On the college circuit there are 32955 players all trying to make the NBA, that’s 32955 players trying to make better lives for themselves.

Now here is where it gets interesting... 32955 American college students all trying to make it to the NBA, do you know how many people actually get a glimpse of NBA stardom? 60... so we’ve narrowed it down from 551373 high school athletes to 60 NBA potentials. I say “potentials” because realistically of the 60 guys only 30 will actually see NBA game time in the first 42 games of the season. The other 30? NBA G-League... where they still earn abit of money but all the guys there are still all trying to make it to the NBA as well, they’re all trying to prove that they have what it takes to play in the big league. 28 G-League teams with 15 man squads? That’s an additional 420 (pun intended) players thrown in the mix of 551373 high school players, 32955 college athletes.

Now throw the thousands of foreign athletes in the mix from Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, North America (Canada & Mexico) and South America. 7 continents of players all trying to make it to the biggest league in the world. Competition is rife and constant.

One other advantage the US specifically has is population. With an estimated 327 million people in the US compared to our roughly 50 million, that’s 1 South African Liam for 6 American Liams so with that comes competition in trying to prove why you should be above him and the 6 other liams from the 6 other continents that all had to prove they were better than the rest.

That’s all for today, please feel free to fact check me at anytime, most of these stats are taken from 2018 surveys.

Feel free to comment or let me know what you think.