In the next few weeks we'll be kicking off the Sports Management Worldwide Basketball Career Conference in Las Vegas at the UNLV student union and we'd like you to be there with us. But I know it isn't that simple, we have to convince you it's worth your time and worth a trip to Vegas. 

 

Well, the second part should be easy, it's always worth a trip to Vegas. But back to the conference...  

 

In my view there are two main reasons you should attend out Basketball Career Conference - networking and learning.

 

Let's break these down a bit more.

 

Networking.

 

People often miscontrue what it means to build a network. They look towards the stars, thinking if I get to know an executive with the Chicago Bulls, that makes them more accepted in the industry and more likely to find a job.

 

That is part true. We will have Brian Hagen Assistant GM of the Chicago Bulls at the conference, and if you take the opportunity to get to know him, build a connection and continue developing a relationship in the future, that will bode well for you!

 

But, networking also comes in another form. With peers. When you come to a conference like ours you are surrounded by hungry people, those willing to do what it takes to make it in the industry you love. So now envision a scenario where you get to know Johnny from Indiana (fictional person and name, play along!) and Johnny goes on to become a scout with the Pacers in the next few years. 

 

Now how do you feel about having Johnny in your network of contacts? 

 

Those are the type of people that come to our conferences. The people who are already estabished in the industry, like Brian Hagen, and those who are hungry to enter in the game. Networking with all of them can move your career ahead. And who knows, maybe you are Johnny from Indiana, and when you get the job with the Pacers, you'll have a couple people in mind you'd like to bring with you who you met at the conference.

 

What about learning? Seems obvious right, this is one of your few chances to speak directly and learn from people who are where you want to be. Agents, executives, media members, scouts, analytics experts you name it. 

 

Put yourself in the position to learn from and absorb powerful advice from these experts in the field. This is how you grow! You don't learn from basketball executives during your summer job at the mall, or even your college classroom, you learn from them at events like ours.

 

Here's your learning guide -- the voices who will be at our upcoming conference. Are you ready and open to improvement?:  

 

Bret Kanis, NBA Agent

Jan Wieland, FIBA Agent

Kevin Martin, SMWW Alumus/NBA Agent

 

Mark Warkentien, NY Knicks Dir. Player Personnel

Brian Hagen, Chicago Bulls Assistant General Manager

 

Joel Corry, CBSSports.com Capologist and former NFL and NBA Agent

 

Tommy Balcetis, Denver Nuggets Dir. Analytics

James Brocato, Dallas Mavericks Dir. Basketball Analytics 

 

Video Editing 

John Ross, Portland Trail Blazers Video Operations Asst

 

Kyle Nishimoto, Reno Bighorns (could move to video editing)

Bob Mackinnon, Texas Legends Head Coach 

 

Amin Elhassan, ESPN