Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert studied up on several topics to prepare himself for the Rookie Transition Program (RTP). He had a working idea of what would be discussed by experts, current and former players and other professionals, but still walked away with a wealth of knowledge following a week of panels and presentations.
The league, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, works to ensure every incoming first-year player receives the resources and information needed to succeed at the next level. The program has been held every year since 1986 and is the longest-running and most extensive athlete support system in professional sports.
“They do a good job of stacking things day by day on us just to make us as prepared as we can be to enter into the league,” Kispert told Rookie Wire. “Whether it’s the Rookie Transition Program, practicing, playing or just making sure you’re on top of your stuff, it’s a lot busier than I expected it to be.”
The RTP is one of the most comprehensive introductions to life management tools in professional sports, teaching players skillsets to help maximize their potential. The program features peer-to-peer panels with current and former players, as well as other speakers to help them grow as athletes and individuals.
The prospects often hear from experts and players on several different topics, including mental health and wellness, financial assistance, career development and media training among other areas. The NBA and NBPA view it as essential that they offer a diverse group of speakers so prospects can gain as much information as possible.
The RTP typically takes place in New Jersey each August but it was held virtually last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event took place in person this year in Las Vegas concurrently with summer league because of the condensed offseason calendar.
Players were split up into different groups throughout the week in order to balance games, practices and other engagements. With so many scheduling hurdles, the first day of the program was the only date every player could attend at the same time.
Of course, health and safety protocols were also another challenge of planning the RTP this year.
The event followed strict social distancing and other health-related protocols during the week of activities. Players, other guest speakers and personnel were mandated to wear a mask at all times in order to ensure everyone stayed healthy and safe amidst the recent rise in coronavirus cases.
The health challenges were extensive but allowed everyone the opportunity to interact with each other and create a welcoming environment for the panels and other sessions.
“It was really refreshing,” said Jeff Aubry, the senior director of the NBA player development program. “I don’t think I’ve ever remembered quite so much affection. These guys every day came in and greeted everyone without exception. It is, I think, a result of us spending the past year social distancing. So just being in people’s presence is a special opportunity and none of us really appreciated how important that was until we couldn’t do it.”
The NBA and NBPA each year enlist several current and former players to speak to the incoming class of rookies to share their personal experiences on and off of the court.
The rookies often find that the information the players relay can be very beneficial and it often resonates more. Hall of Famer Ray Allen was among those that spoke to the group two years ago while Dwyane Wade and Karl-Anthony Towns were among the players that attended sessions last year via Zoom.
The panel this year featured several current players, including Portland Trail Blazers guard Robert Covington, Orlando Magic guard R.J. Hampton and Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams among others. The objective was to have both experienced and younger players talk to the group to offer different perspectives on life in the NBA.
“(They talked) about their financial experience in the NBA,” Kispert said. “With each coming from different backgrounds and having different experiences, it was super important to me. Those guys really spent a lot of time off the floor educating themselves and trying to get a leg up on their financial freedom.
“What they talked about is that you’re never more desirable than when you’re currently playing. So, this is a perfect time to start developing your brand, whatever that means to you in connecting yourself with the right people.”
The NBA and NBPA try to bring a sense of community to the players during the RTP that helps promote a family atmosphere.
While the prospects learn a ton of information during the panels and sessions, the league and NBPA want to also let players know that they can seek help throughout the season on different topics should they need it.
The league not only prepares the players themselves but it also helps smooth the transition for their families. In the past, the parents of Chris Paul, and the mother of Jaylen Brown, were among the family members to help walk prospects and their families through what lies ahead.
“I didn’t realize that the interconnectivity of all the NBA players,” Kispert said. “They mentor each other. You can ask for help from anybody, whether that’s managing your finances, real estate or social justice. You want to get involved, there are people in the league that are doing the same thing that you want to do and everyone’s willing to help each other. I didn’t expect that kind of connectedness top to bottom.”
New on the agenda this year was a social justice panel that included guest speakers Greg Taylor, the NBA Foundation executive director; James Cadogan, the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition executive director; and NBPA Foundation executive director Sherrie Deans.
Former player Caron Butler was also on hand to speak to the players.
The players were afforded the opportunity to learn how they can help positively influence change and speak out against social injustice and racism. They also inquired more information about the efforts the NBA and NBPA made last year during the season restart at the Wide World of Sports Complex.
The stated goal of the season restart was to take collective action to combat systematic racial inequalities and promote social justice. The courts at Disney each displayed “Black Lives Matter” and individuals also wore special messages for social causes or movements, something players wanted to see enacted last year.
The conversations seemed to really strike the players at the RTP.
“They were leaning forward and were completely engaged,” Aubry said. “I mean this is clearly a topic that’s on their mind. They’ve experienced the past year the same way all of us have and are sincerely interested in the direction that these organizations are taking and the opportunities they have to be involved.
“I think Caron especially because of the work he’s done in leveraging his platform in this space was inspiring for them to know that they can have this kind of impact and that they have so much support from the NBA and the NBPA, and obviously the three organizations that were represented on the panel.”
The NBA has often led the charge on providing mental health awareness to its players and encouraging them to seek help if they need it. The objective each year is to continue to normalize the conversation surrounding mental health.
New panels and sessions were introduced this year to further speak to the importance of mental health and wellness and dealing with the pressure that comes with being a player. The decision to expand the discussion in the panels stems directly from the feedback received from the players in the past.
Of course, given the challenges of the past 12-16 months, the need for additional resources on mental health has grown and the NBA and NBPA recognized the opportunity to expand its message.
“I think a big push for us is to normalize the conversation,” Aubry said. “We’re encouraging players to prioritize their mental health and wellness, and not just when there’s a large issue but to proactively strengthen that. So, that has to do with performance as well.
“We all want to get the most out of ourselves, maximize our potential. I think, for the last few years, we’ve had the benefit of some players leading the way on being open about their challenges and their efforts to stay present and focused and deal with life and not just basketball.”
Three years ago today, @kevinlove opened up about his mental health in ”Everyone Is Going Through Something.” #TPTArchive
📝: https://t.co/U5TeITvv2B pic.twitter.com/UMmHPBIeWq
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 6, 2021
The conversation surrounding mental health and wellness has changed drastically over the past several years. Athletes across all sports have spoken out on the stigma that comes with mental health issues and the anxiety of performing on a large stage.
The NBA has seen players like Kevin Love, DeMar DeRozan, Tobias Harris, Trae Young and countless others use their platform to speak out and encourage those in need to seek help. The decision to open up and admit their struggles has enabled thousands of others to do the same.
“I think that encourages them to embrace this elevated view of what it is to be a wholly balanced person and have a balanced life, and that balance is really important to them,” Aubry said. “They’re able to really enjoy, not just the benefits of being in the league but to understand the challenges and attack them with their whole being.
“How successful is a person that is constantly struggling with the pressure they’re under if they can’t acknowledge or deal with it? I think that gives them a completely different approach than in the past. And then I think the way teams, the league, even the media and fans can appreciate the very human journey that these players are on.”
With players facing several challenges in transitioning to the next level, the NBA has gone above and beyond to ensure they are set up for success. The efforts of everyone involved in the process often go a long way for a given player and they are seemingly each grateful for the program.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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