Why Being an NBA Player Is SO Much Harder Than You Think!

"You don't realize how hard the NBA is until you're really in the NBA." -- Donte DiVincenzo, Golden State Warriors

The Point Forward podcast, hosted by former NBA teammates and current best friends Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, uses basketball as a pretext to honestly and openly talk about business, culture, race, tech, and, yes, sports. Specifically, over the course of weekly hour-long episodes that drop on #pointforwardfriday, Iguodala and Turner, discuss and debate current national and global events in a way that is meant to resonate with everyone from the Silicon Valley elite to teenagers on the south side of Chicago. #pointforwardpodcast #Andreiguodala #goldenstatewarriors #dontedivincenzo #nba #gleague

Point Forward Podcast:
Video: @pointforward

Point Forward Social and Newsletter:

[jeffhill]

"I would play the game for free...you get paid for the bullshit that come with being in the NBA"-Dennis Rodman

[BetterGamingChair]

Damn Evan Turner with the Jump Scare 🤦🏽‍♂️🤣🤣 I was not expecting that nigga to show up

[mystxrytm]

Donte: "I'm so tired and exhausted, and i still have to be so productive"

Meanwhile Evan turner: 😀

[YAHdiEL]

Legend has it, Andre Iguodala is still saying “right”

[CantSpellAirWithoutAI]

Reporter: He’s the first in, last one to leave. What an inspirational story of dedication.
Player: Nah, coach had a gun to my head.

[muana]

Shout out to Iggy for just letting him talk without interruption

[paulshoger]

That’s part of why NBA players make millions. For the grind of the schedule, the practices, press conferences… There’s a lot involved. Still a hell of a lot better than the daily grind that many people have just to make $40k a year. I’ll take being exhausted and rich over exhausted and scraping by any day.

[gregking]

I know they get paid well, but for every player making 10 million a year, there's 1, 000 guys playing semi-pro for like 40k a year, working out and playing ball around the clock, and working at Walmart to pay bills. So once you make it, you know there's 1, 000 guys trying to take your job every year. There are a ton of demands on their time, and they are still human.

[KingDavidTBE]

Mental toughness is crazy cause imagine doing all that work, you workout, practice, eat practice, game but then you lose the game, you just gotta shake it offf

[camcolb]

These types of vids help me understand why so many players respected Kobe

[supernewb]

I like when ppl expose the default to a “good story”. THAT’s keeping it real.

[omnivorous]

I can sympathise. I played professionally for two seasons and you are aching all the time. Knee hurting, back hurting. You are tired, fatigued all the time and guess what, you stop enjoying basketball, it becomes a grind. And those were two seasons without any injuries. That must be even harder. Yes, these guys make a lot of money, but they pay a price for it.

[markied]

Bruh Turner coming out of nowhere with that smile 💀💀

[Nemataylor]

I think people waking up and going to they job and still being poor is way harder but that’s just me tho

[randymonster]

I live in the Philippines and we had a 6'10", 350lbs player who got an opportunity to train with an NBA team. He was pretty good here. After just a few months of training in the NBA, he lost a ton of weight and was like warshocked when he got back. The travel, practice and training is killer. WIthout proper trainers and nutrition, you'd just be running on fumes.

[mary_krishnan]

NBA is full of skillful players but not all has NBA game IQ and lastly not all can handle fame well and in a right manner. I love Donte my favourite Italian NBA Player 😊.

[future_teknokrat]

Rookies literally get no time off until after season one. They leave the college game and immediately get ready for the draft a month later, then the draft is late June or early July, then Summer League, then ProAm Circuit, then training camp in late September.

[TyTimeIsAwesome]

It's extremely difficult, which is why only the best of the best and most talented make it. I give them a lot of props. Most these guys have been hooping hardcore since they were 12 year olds too, so I know they're tired. But hey man- that's life. You gotta grind, and being an NBA player is one of the greatest job in the world.

[KDMClips]

I love that Donte shows love to Steph wearing his brand ❤

[bubbajr]

People say they shouldn't say nothing because they are getting paid millions to play a game but don't realize that playing professional sports is hard freaking work. If your name is on the back of an NBA jersey that means you had what it takes and you put in the work to get your name on that jersey.