From Court to Career: The Surprising New Jobs NBA Stars Are Thriving In Today
Bill Walton – Sports Broadcaster
Bill Walton started his basketball career playing for the UCLA Bruins in the 70s winning two national titles during that time. After school, he was drafted into the NBA where he played for the Portland Trailblazers winning MVP and two NBA Championships.
After retiring in 1987, he overcame a stuttering problem and became a successful NBA commentator for CBS, NBC, the Los Angeles Clippers, ABC/ESPN. After taking a break from broadcasting he came back to sports broadcasting full time.
Michael Jordan – Entrepreneur
Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, former Chicago Bulls powerhouse had no need for money after his retirement in 2003. During his time in the NBA he cashed in a total of $90 million although now has a net worth of $1.3 billion.
While he could have sat back and counted his money, he decided to keep working and now owns the Charolette Hornets as part of his job. Besides that, he also works and makes deals with massive companies such as Hanes, Gatorade, and more. He also owns a car dealership and seven restaurants.
Hakeem Olajuwon – Real Estate Dealer
Hakeem Olajuwon played for both the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors between 1984 and 2002 with back-to-back-championships in 1994 and 1995. He is also known for mentoring some other incredibly skilled players of today such as Lebron James and Dwight Howard, among others.
While Olajuwon made some sound investments both during and after his NBA career, he knew that he could keep using his money wisely. So, today, he is a real estate dealer which keeps the money coming in.
Shawn Bradley – Rancher
Shawn Bradley is known as one of the tallest players to step on the NBA court, especially during his time in the league. While he started out playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, he then wen to the New Jersey Nets.
However, he spent the majority of his career playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Aside from playing a role in Space Jam, after his retirement in 2005, Bradley decided to take his talents out in the field and bought a massive cattle ranch.
Maceo Baston – Owns A Cupcake Store
While in the NBA Maceo Baston joined with the Toronto Raptors, then played for the Indiana Pacers playing for both teams twice over the course of his career. He traveled the world playing basketball in various countries until he decided it was time to hang up his basketball shoes.
He then started up a cupcake business with his wife called Taste Love Cupcakes in Michigan. Their business went on to compete in Cupcake Wars taking home $10,000. He’s not so much the baker as the taster.
Tom Chambers – Sports Broadcaster
Tom Chambers is the only player to have scored 20,000 points over the course of his career and to be eligible for the Hall of Fame but isn’t. He was the NBA All-Star four times and had a 16-year career with six different teams.
Today, Chambers works as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Arizona where he covers the Phoenix Suns. He also breeds horses in Utah although he describes that aspect of his life more like a hobby than an actual job.
Junior Bridgeman – Coca Cola Distributor
Junior Bridgman is currently worth $600 million after playing in the NBA for 12 years. He played from 1975 to 1987 where he played for the Lakers and later the Bucks. After retiring from playing ball, he used his money and acquired 450 restaurant franchises, most of which are Wendy’s and Chili’s.
However, most recently he sold many of his restaurants in order to work with Coca Cola. He is now a distributor for the Coca Cola company and the third independent bottler.
Chris Washburn – Works For Mortgage Company
Chris Washburn is one of the biggest guys to ever play in the NBA. He was drafted as the third pick in 1986 and played for the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately personal problems got in the way of his basketball career and was punished with a lifetime ban from the league after failing three drug tests in three years.
Finally, he decided to clean up his actin in 2000. It was then that he started a fried chicken business with his girlfriend. While that only lasted a year, he now works for a home mortgage company.
Evan Eschmeyer – Attorney
Drafted into the NBA in 1999, he played for the New Jersey Nets where he spent four years. However, he struggled to get time in the game due to knee problems, he played in 153 games scoring 421 points.
However, he forced to retire due to his knee in 2004. He then returned to Northwestern University where he played basketball in college and enrolled in the competitive JD-MBA program, where he earned both a law degree and an MBA. He has since worked as an attorney, entrepreneur, and director of finance for Atlas Tower.
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