Each year the NBA Summer League creates countless opportunities for more than just the athletes who compete in it. Our VSL “family” has now grown into a tight-knit army over the years, with influecne all over the sports industry.
We are very proud to spotlight our alumni around the NBA and other professional sports, and this week we have a feature on 3-year veteran Scott Horvitz.
Scott went from Vegas last summer to New Orleans where he began working with their professional sports teams there.
Q: What are you up to these days?
I currently work in the video production department for the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints.
Q: Tell us about your experience with NBA Summer League, the different things you got to do and responsibilities you had.
The three years I spent on the NBA Summer League staff were some of the most memorable years of my life. I was lucky enough to be a part of something so much bigger than I initially expected. Everyone involved works extremely hard to make it one of the most enjoyable events in the country, and there truly isn’t anything like it.
My first two years on the staff I was part of the social media team. I helped run the twitter account and photographed star athletes/celebrities that were attending the games. My third year I was a videographer filming highlights, player interviews, and fan interactions for the arena video board.
Q: Was there a highlight?
The highlight from all three of my years at Summer League was without a doubt getting to meet some of the best people I know. I made life long relationships and friends that will always be there for me. Everyone I worked with put the team before themselves and that can be hard to find.
Q: Was there anything that you learned at NBA Summer League that you see yourself using in your job now.
Working Summer League is a blast, but it is also an absolute non-stop grind for two weeks. It helped me develop a strong work ethic that I have taken with me to the Pelicans and Saints.
Q: Can you tell us about what you do with the Pelicans and Saints?
My job consists of filming and editing game highlights, video board hype videos, player community event packages, and more. I also work different positions in the control room in order to help produce games.
Q: What is your favorite / most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is getting to see my work being played on the video boards during games. It’s pretty cool knowing that some of my videos can affect the outcome of the game.
Q: Was your goal to always make it into just the sports industry or specifically to do video production for sports?
At first my goal was just to somehow make it into the sports industry. With that being said, I always had an interest in film making and video editing. So eventually I decided video production would give me the best shot to make it into the industry.
Q: What advice would you give a young person who has the same ambitions you had?
I would tell them not to get discouraged if things aren’t happening the way they imagined right away. Everyone has their own path and their own obstacles to overcome. Just stay motivated, stick to the plan, and keep working hard. Things will eventually pay off.
Favorite hobby outside work?
My favorite hobby would have to be playing pick up basketball.
Role models / People you admire?
ESPN sports anchor, Sage Steele. We both traveled very similar paths at Indiana University, and without her I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Favorite sports movie?
Moneyball
Favorite Quote?
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path.” -Steve Jobs
Most memorable or favorite sporting event you’ve been to, whether through work or for fun?
Seeing my Indiana Hoosiers knock off the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines in Assembly Hall back in 2012. It was the loudest I’ve ever heard a sporting event.
