Sports Business Classroom’s 2024 Business of Basketball Immersive Experience Soars to Record Attendance

For 135 students who dream of one day working in the business of basketball, the 2024 Sports Business Classroom’s Business of Basketball Immersive Experience once again provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for business of basketball hopefuls from across the globe.

Having taken place at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion during the 2024 NBA Summer League, the program was not just an educational conference. It was an Immersive Experience and an inside look into the business of basketball which served as a stepping stone towards realizing those dreams.

Designed for the basketball leaders of the future, the program was designed to give attendees an inside look at the business of basketball, with the curriculum covering:

  • Basketball Operations
  • Scouting, Video, and Analytics
  • League Salary Cap
  • Media and Broadcast
  • Networking, Jobs & Resume Writing

GLOBAL REACH

The 2024 edition of the Business of Basketball Immersive Experience brought students from 10 Countries. Highlighting the reach of basketball around the world, students from the United States, Canada, Belgium, England, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, and Bahrain will now be able to travel back to their home countries and apply the knowledge they learned from the top minds in basketball.

All-Star Lineup of Instructors                                                                                                                      

Sports Business Classroom Lead Instructor and ESPN NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks headlines the All Star lineup of Instructors featured at the 2024 Business of Basketball Immersive Experience. Bleacher Report Writer Eric Pinicus headlined the CBA and Salary Cap curriculum. Howard Beck and J.A Adande were tabbed as the lead for Media and Broadcast majors. Renowned Seth Partnow was tasked with delivering the Scouting, Video, and Analytics instruction. Jeff Felenzer has assisted the students of the program in resume-building, networking, and relationship building in the sports industry.

The program also featured support from Shane Kupperman, Katie Heindl, Casey Powell (CP the Franchise), Steven Jones, Elvis Valcarcel, Danielle Langford, Danielle Cantor-Jewell, Gregg Polinsky, Jason Hillman, Derrick Brown, Rachel Baker, Tommy Sheppard, Ryan McDonough, Ramon Sessions, EJ Kusnyer, Kevin Pelton, Sergi Olivia, Matt Riccardi, Ryan Silverstein, Matt Tellem, and many more!

2024 PARTNERSHIPS
The 2024 edition of the Business of Basketball Immersive Experience featured a number of partnerships that added immense value to the program. Collaborations with the UNLV Sports Innovation, Diversified Restaurant Group, Taco Bell and Deakin University reinforced Sports Business Classroom’s commitment to diverse perspectives, cutting-edge innovations, and a commitment to inclusivity and education, enriching the learning experience for all attendees.

TESTIMONIALS

“SBC allows its students to fully immerse themselves in the basketball industry, while learning aspects of the league like Salary Cap, Scouting, Video, Analytics, and Media/Broadcast. Throughout the experience, I learned from current front-office executives, coaches, and recognizable media and broadcast personalities.” – Sam Stern

“I left my nearly decade-long career in finance to pursue the industry I always dreamed of working in. Safe to say its been the best decision I ever made professionally and my time at the SBC has only amplified my enthusiasm.” – Akash P

“During the week my most important goal was to make connections. I exceeded my expectations by a landslide. I met so many amazing people that served as my mentors, instructors and peers during the program but our bonds stretch further than SBC.” – Jazmine Thomas

“I am immensely grateful to my colleagues for their dedication and to the experience for the invaluable lessons and unforgettable friendships formed along the way. Forever grateful for the experience, advice, and support!” – Rudy W

“This experience has profoundly shaped my understanding of basketball and reaffirmed my passion for the sport. SBC has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a career in basketball.” – Daniel Gabriel

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PROGRAM STANDOUTS
The most invaluable aspect of the program each year is the chance for participants to showcase their abilities and work in front of league executives. Over the course of the program students are assigned in groups to represent an NBA team and act as the front office, negotiating with other teams to conduct a trade judged by a panel of experts.

Each and every year the program culminates in a term project, mock trade deadline and awards session, which serve as a launchpad for careers, a place where dreams turn into tangible opportunities.

We’d like to take a moment to congratulate and acknowledge the 2024 award winners, which include:

  • Alexus Williams (League Salary Cap)
  • Jazmine Thomas (Media and Broadcast)
  • James DiBiasi (League Salary Cap)
  • Connor Leach (Scouting, Video and Analytics)
  • Richie Martin (Scouting, Video and Analytics)

The Winners of the Mock Trade Deadline exercise were:

  • 1st Place – Minnesota Timberwolves (Best Overall)
    • (Jake Henry, Luke McCartney, Nathaniel Freeman, Aidan Lauretti, Kimte Taylor)
  • 2nd – Utah Jazz
    • (Yasser Harmoush, Roberto Gutierrez, Samuel Treppo, Calder Clark, Akili Kelekele)
  • 3rd – Washington Wizards
    • (Isaac Popper,  Luke D’Alcorn, Sam Levine)

The Best Presentations of the Mock Trade Deadline exercise were:

  • Charlotte Hornets
    • (Duncan Taylor, Nicky Law, Mohamed Farih, Jacob Duldulao Apostol)
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
    • (Alec Plante, Nathaniel Poblete, Nash Jameson, Hassan Ladiwala, Rodrigo Daboin)

This year SBC introduced a specialized curriculum and final project for those students planning on becoming NBA Agents. The awards for these projects were:

  • Best Contract (Individual): James DiBiasi (Jabstep Basketball)
  • Best Presentation: BOSS Agency
    • (Rudy Washington, BJ Pitts, Blake Gary, Dee Roseboro, Ezekiel Bottorff)
  • Best Agency: Mitchell Sports Management
    • (Brandon Mitchell, Alexus Williams, Nate Verstegen, Felipe Paku, Scott Willis)