I loved making professional connections with employees who shared the same interests as me and who had career that I would potentially want some day. I also enjoyed connection with other interns, working and planning events like the NBA Draft, and seeing a more in depth look at professional sports.
What I wish was different
I do not wish anything would have been different. It was one of the greatest experiences I have had so far in my early career and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to gain experience in the professional sports industry!
Advice
Make as many professional connects as you can while you are there. With any industry, it is so important to know as many people as you can. At the NBA everyone is so welcoming and willing to sit down and talk with you and share their story so take advantage of that!
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One person found this helpful
Production Assistant
May - June 2019 • San Francisco, CA
What I liked
I loved working with the people there. I met a lot of international commentators and it was fascinating learning about their job and all the traveling they do
What I wish was different
Advice
To be ready to stay on your feet for long amounts of time and be prepared for anything
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Partner Development Intern
June - August 2019 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I loved the environment and culture at the NBA. From the first day to the last day of the internship, I was surrounded by such talented people which made the entire experience so rewarding. I liked how there was a focus on getting to know one another.
What I wish was different
There are a lot of different groups within the NBA and I wish there were more events to collaborate with other departments within the NBA. During the internship program, you are assigned to a team for a 10-week long period. I would've liked to have been able to spend at least a day learning about some of the other functionalities of the other departments to get a better understanding of the company as a whole.
Advice
To be yourself! Coming into the NBA, there are a lot of personalities and being able to be genuine really helped with connecting with other people across the company. Don't be afraid to speak up and be involved in more tasks than what you're assigned.
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Photo Intern
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I liked that we were encouraged to explore other departments and network with people around the league. Everyone I encounter was very welcoming, down-to-earth and professional.
What I wish was different
I wish our roles as interns in our departments would have been clear from the beginning. It took me until the second week to get answers about what my role would be.
Advice
Ask questions. Show that you want to understand how the league works. Show initiative and ask how you can help or suggest ways that you can help. Network! People at the NBA come from diverse backgrounds.
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Global Partnerships Intern
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I enjoyed networking with everyone in the office and getting to see how the league operates.
What I wish was different
I wish the internship could have been longer.
Advice
I would say to network with as many people as possible and absorb every bit of information.
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Facilities Intern
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
Good exposure to corporate environment.
Very well structured internship with a lot of exposure to senior management and different departments.
Good exposure to sports industry.
What I wish was different
More diverse interns
Advice
Put yourself out there as much as possible during an internship- have coffee chats with people, ask questions etc
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Content Intern
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
The program itself gave interns a deep understanding of how the league operates and provided many different experiences (including working the NBA Draft). One of the best highlights was their “Executive Speaker Series”, where interns heard from all top level executives in the league.
What I wish was different
On a positional level, my department was pretty slow during the summer months, but the Program-wide events and cross-departmental “Think Tank” project made up for it.
Advice
I highly recommend to anyone interested in sports business and wants a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
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Content Intern
June - August 2018 • Secaucus, NJ
What I liked
I really like the NBA as an organization. It is a very progressive, innovative organization and a leader in the sports world in terms of taking stances on social issues and backing its players. The company culture is great. I was surrounded by talented, friendly, enthusiastic individuals who cared about what I had to say and wanted to contribute as an intern. I also liked that I was able to contribute in a meaningful way through the projects I worked on. I was not making copies or grabbing coffee. I was doing work that was helping my team and the company in a significant way.
What I wish was different
I wish my department/ position was a bit more dynamic. As a journalist, I am used to constantly moving and interacting with people. I do not like sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 on the computer but that is a lot of what I did.
Advice
The intern experience at the NBA has a lot to do with which department you are placed in, which is generally out of your control. Interns have drastically different experiences depending on the department. It is important to keep an open mind and realize that your experience is your experience. Do not compare your experience with anyone else's.
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Intern
June - August 2017 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I loved all of my experience. My department was the NBA G League and I work in Business Operations mainly. Everyone I worked with was inclusive and supportive and really cared about me. They gave me hands-on experience in which I was able to contribute to the overall success of the league. It wasn't like I got "intern" work; I had legitimate responsibility and got to see my work come to fruition on a large scale. I had a lot of work, but I am thankful for it because I was able to experience the reality of having my dream job. I got to network with people already in the industry as well as my fellow interns. Also, I got to go on a work trip to Las Vegas.
What I wish was different
I do not have critiques. I was grateful for every second.
Advice
Take full advantage of your time! The people at the NBA are very dedicated to this being a very helpful experience and, in my experience, were very open to scheduling time to talk with you. Meet everyone you can.
