From Court to Career: The Surprising New Jobs NBA Stars Are Thriving In Today
Patience and perseverance paid off for Martin, who was named Community Services Manager in 2005. On top of his 9-5 job, Martin also works on the Board of Directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
Birdman Wants A Return To The NBA
The last time that Chris “Birdman” Andersen stepped onto an NBA hardwood floor was back in 2016-17 season when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A year and some change later, Andersen speaks and says he wants to be back out on the floor.
Staying in shape and hoping that a team will give you a call while you’re not in the NBA is a job in itself. Since 2018, he has played in the Big3 league.
Oscar Robertson – Affordable Housing Advocate
An old school NBA star, Oscar Robertson was ascendant during his 14 year career. He was named an all-star 12 times and retired as one of the league’s highest scoring guards ever. Still, his greatest accomplishment was his work to create affordable housing for African Americans in Indianapolis.
For his amazing efforts to improve his community, the University of Cincinnati honored Robertson with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2007. When he has time to himself, the NBA icon also enjoys woodworking.
Vin Baker – Starbucks Manager
Vin Baker had an incredible 13-year NBA career. Sadly, he lost his fortune in retirement, struggling to adjust to the major life change. Today, Baker works as a manager at Starbucks and is a minister at his father’s church.
Baker knows how working at a Starbucks might look to people on the outside, but has come to terms with that, saying, “I lost a fortune. I had a great talent and lost it. For the people on the outside looking in, they’re like ‘Wow.’ For me, I’m 43 and I have four kids. I have to pick up the pieces.” In 2019, Baker took a job as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tim Duncan – MMA/Coach
Easily the strangest retirement choice on this list, San Antonio Spur legend Tim Duncan has been training as an MMA fighter since retiring. Currently, his training can only be considered a hobby, although his trainer is high on his potential, calling him “a monster” and “a legit contender.”
While he waits for his MMA career to begin, Duncan keeps plenty busy running BlackJack Speed Shop, an auto body shop he opened in 2013. In 2017, the shop helped organize the delivery of needed supplies to Hurricane Harvey victims. In 2019, Duncan agreed to return to the Spurs as an assistant coach. He has no plans to sell his auto shop.
Michael Ray Richardson – Substitute Teacher
Michael “Sugar” Ray Richardson played professional basketball for 24 years. His career started in the NBA but was cut short in 1986 when the commissioner banned him for life. Richardson continued to play across the globe, spending 14 years in Europe.
Once he retired in 2002, Richardson got into coaching for a few years until he found his second love; substitute teaching. Now in his 60s, the former star works as a teacher in Oklahoma and runs a youth camp for underprivileged children.
Derrick Coleman – Water Supplier
Despite a 15-year NBA career, Derrick Coleman was labeled as lazy by his coaches. They can’t say that about his post-NBA life, which has seen Coleman work tirelessly to deliver water to families in need.
Coleman spends his days driving around Flint, Michigan, making sure its residents have clean drinking water. He says, “That’s what I’m seeing. Distress. I’m seeing people who need help. I’ve seen the rust and everything that’s in their water. Flint is like a ghost town, and it’s sad… How can this happen here in America?”
Steve Francis – Entrepreneur
With nine NBA seasons to his name, Steve Francis called it a career to pursue other passion projects. One of those passions was music, leading to the formation of Mazerati Music. His attempt to start a hip-hop record label was forgettable at best, leading him to his next venture.
Following Mazerati Music, Francis started his own clothing line, We r One. Unofrtunately, all of his projects are on hold today while he sorts through financial problems.
Dennis Rodman – Political Ambassador
Dennis Rodman has never stayed out of the public eye. The NBA icon with a boisterous personality to match loves attention. So far, he has avoided a 9-5 job, but his post NBA career is too strange to not include here.
After retiring, Rodman got into professional wrestling. Once he couldn’t do that anymore, he became a political ambassador, making his first trip to North Korea in 2013. When he came home, he called Kim Jong Un a “friend for life.” He made a return trip to North Korea in 2017.
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