Today’s guest is SBC Instructor, Podcast Host, and Former Player Development Assistant Coach for the Brooklyn Nets, Steve Jones Jr.. Steve is the son of basketball legend Steve “Snapper” Jones and has been surrounded by basketball his entire life. For college Steve played basketball at Arizona State from 2005-08 and then transferred to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas where he played until 2010. In this episode, Riley and Steve discuss:Steve’s mindset when he didn’t get employed fresh out of collegeBeing thrown into a role right before the NBA seasonCoaching for the Brooklyn NetsWhat he plans to bring to the table this summer at SBC ImmersiveAfter his college career, Steve got his start in the sports industry with the Memphis Grizzlies in a Video Coordinator position where he gained a lot of experience, eventually reaching Head Video Coordinator. From Memphis, Steve then moved on to a position with the Brooklyn Nets as an Assistant Coach for Player Development. Fast forward to today, Steve is now the host of The Dunker Spot Podcast where he talks all things basketball with co-host, Nekias Duncan. Follow SBC: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookFollow Steve Jones Jr.: LinkedIn | Instagram | X | The Dunker PodcastFollow Riley Sager: LinkedIn | Instagram

Join Steven Alves, NBA consultant, in an insightful discussion on analytical skills, NBA certification, and game analysis. Discover his journey in scouting, dedication to basketball, and challenges in the industry. Gain valuable advice for aspiring sports professionals and hear about the upcoming 2024 SBC Business of Basketball Immersive Experience.

This episode of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is from a previously recorded webinar on “How Teams Navigate the NBA Trade Deadline” hosted by Bobby Marks and Eric Pincus. Throughout the webinar, they discuss the ins and outs of the trade deadline, answer relevant questions from our live Q&A, and more!In this episode, Bobby and Eric discuss:The process of putting together a tradeTrade structure and permissible tradesThe impact of the new CBAExamples of current and past tradesBobby and Eric provide excellent insights on how front offices operate through one of the busiest times of the NBA Calendar.This webinar is an example of what students learn during the SBC Business of Basketball Immersive Experience. If you have any interest in attending the upcoming program taking place July 14-20, 2024 during the Las Vegas Summer, be sure to register as soon as possible as space is limited.Learn more: sportsbusinessclassroom.comFollow SBC: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookFollow Bobby Marks: LinkedIn | Instagram | TwitterFollow Eric Pincus: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter

In this episode of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience, new series host Riley Sager is joined by SBC Lead Instructor, Bobby Marks. Marks is ESPN’s NBA Front Office Insider and in his new role with SBC, Bobby is enhancing SBC’s existing offerings including the upcoming SBC Business of Basketball Immersive Experience in Las Vegas, developing his "2023 CBA Updates" video-on-demand course, hosting webinars, providing educational resources and more.In this episode, Riley and Bobby discuss:Bobby's role as Lead Instructor for SBCCoverage of the 2023-24 NBA Trade DeadlineHow Bobby got his start in the sports industryWhat being ESPN’s NBA Office Insider entails2024 Business of Basketball Immersive ExperienceBobby provides commentary across all ESPN platforms including television, radio, and digital media. He has been an integral part of covering the NBA Draft, trade deadline, and free agency since he was hired in 2017. Marks started his professional career with the then-New Jersey Nets as an intern in 1995 and rose through the ranks, eventually garnering the title of Assistant GM in 2010. With the Nets, he was part of two Eastern Conference championship teams. A native of Little Falls, NJ, Marks graduated from Marist College in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in communications and was a member of the football team for three years.Follow SBC: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookFollow Bobby Marks: LinkedIn | Twitter | InstagramFollow Riley Sager:LinkedIn | Instagram

In the 4th and final installment of Howard Beck's Understanding Analytics Series, we have the privilege of sitting down with the accomplished Brittni Donaldson. Brittni is an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, known for her expertise in basketball analytics. She rose to the NBA ranks after her playing career at Northern Iowa concluded. She has previously held coaching roles with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors, contributing to the Raptors' 2019 NBA Finals victory. As a trailblazer, she became the youngest active Assistant Coach in the NBA at the age of 26 and the first female coaching hire for the Raptors, Pistons, and Hawks.Join us as we dive into Brittni's incredible journey, exploring how she arrived at her current position and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. From her time at StatsLLC to her a-ha moment along the way, Brittni shares valuable insights into her path.We'll dive into the role of advanced analytics and statistical information in the NBA and how players perceive and utilize these data-driven insights. Discover how Brittni effectively communicates with players, coaches, and executives, fostering a shared understanding that bridges the gap between data and on-court performance. Throughout the episode, we explore the types of questions players have, how Brittni supports athletes going through slumps, and the less-known data points that fans may overlook.Find out how organizational goals translate into data implementation, as Brittni sheds light on creating a supportive and secure environment for players to embrace analytical information. Moreover, Brittni shares her experiences adapting her approach in the ever-evolving industry and ensuring players feel comfortable "speaking the same language" as the data presented to them.As we conclude the episode, we discuss common misconceptions in the media and fan community about statistics, and whether teams have sufficient data to quantify quality defense.If you're intrigued by the intersection of basketball analytics, coaching, and player development, this episode is a must-listen. Gain exclusive insights from Brittni Donaldson, a trailblazer in the NBA coaching realm, and discover the art of effectively integrating data into the world of professional basketball.Don't miss this enlightening conversation on our podcast, where we bring you the voices shaping the future of sports!

In this episode of Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience “Professional Series,” host Howard Beck is joined by Ben Taylor, author of Thinking Basketball, host of the Thinking Basketball podcast. In this episode, Howard and Ben discuss:Defensive analyticsJoel Embiid vs. Nikola JokicWhere does Jokic rank defensNBAivelyBen is able to translate advanced analytics to the fans via his podcast. Ben continues to breakdown basketball analytics for fans on Youtube, Patreon, and Twitter. We are excited to have Ben share his knowledge and translate analytics to the common basketball fan.Follow SBC: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookFollow Howard Beck: LinkedIn | TwitterFollow Ben Taylor: Twitter | Website | Youtube | Patreon | Book

Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience “Professional Series” host Howard Beck is joined by Cory Jez, On Air Analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers. Cory worked as the first and only full-time on-air stats analyst for the team, joining every game broadcast and breaking down the game from a statistical perspective. Cory’s professional experience includes leading the Utah Jazz analytical department and Austin FC, consulting with PGA Tour golfers through his company TourIQ, and helping integrate data with different major sports leagues.In this episode Howard and Cory discuss:Cory’s goal as a broadcaster focusing on analyticsHow Cory translates numbers and stats to fansWhat is player tracking data?How organizations evaluate playersExplanation of reliable all-in-one stats and what they accomplishCory’s background in consulting with startups like Fanduel allowed him to bring a modern technology vision to pro sports. In 2016, Cory took a leading analytics role for the Utah Jazz, growing their department from 1 person to 4 and implementing technology within every aspect of the organization - working closely with the coaching staff, GMs and scouts. In 2020, Cory did the same thing for Austin FC, the newest expansion club within the MLS. Having twice designed and implemented full-scale infrastructure for pro teams gives Cory a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, data, and technology.

In this episode of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience “SBC Alumni Takeover” series, host Alicia Solomon is joined by the Co-founder of PinoyPlug, Jackson Webber. PinoyPlug is an entrepreneurial journey that Jackson and his partner started based on selling footwear and apparel to professional athletes. Jackson has had great personal shopping events at Super Bowl 57, NFL Combine sites, and the University of Washington. Jackson offers great insight into his entrepreneurial journey and how to successfully build relationships with professional athletes.In this episode, Alicia and Jackson discuss:Jackson’s background and how he got into reselling shoes and clothesThe details of Jackson’s business and how he stands out in the spaceHow Jackson got connected with professional athletesBiggest lessons Jackson has learned and what the future looks like for him and the businessJackson is currently a student-athlete at Vanguard University and interning at HallPass Media while balancing his business. We are excited to have Jackson join the SBC podcast and look forward to seeing him succeed in everything he is involved with.Follow SBC: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookFollow Alicia: LinkedIn | InstagramFollow PinoyPlug: InstagramFollow Jackson Webber: Instagram | LinkedIn

Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is back with a brand new “Professional Series” hosted by Howard Beck. Howard (previously with Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, NY Times) is joined by ESPN writer Kevin Pelton. Kevin brings advanced experience in basketball analytics. Kevin brings advanced experience in basketball analytics, including past work with the Indiana Pacers and supersonics.com.In this episode Howard and Kevin discuss:The new age of stats and analytics in basketballHow to assess team offense and defense from a statistical analytics perspective?Dean Oliver’s 4 factors of offense and defenseScoring efficiency and how to judge high usage players?How to measure team success past a win-loss record?Advice for anyone looking to increase their knowledge about NBA data and analyticsKevin Pelton joined ESPN as an NBA writer in 2013. He is a contributor to ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast and the co-host of the Fabulous Peltoncast podcast. Previously, Pelton served as an author for BasketballProspectus.com since the site’s inception in 2007 through 2012. He also served as a statistical consultant to the Indiana Pacers from 2010-12. We are excited to have Kevin join the podcast and share his knowledge on the analytical side of basketball.

Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is back with another episode of our “SBC Alumni Takeover Series," and this time we have a new host, SBC Alum Alicia Solomon! Alicia is joined by MajorWavez Lab founder & designer, Ruben Barraza. Ruben is a major creator in the fashion space and has built his own sneaker customizing experience in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. MajorWavez offers classroom-style experiences for the public to get a taste of the designing and creative process for customizing their very own sneakers. Ruben was one of the most popular attractions at NBA Summer League in the past year with players and fans flocking to take part in the custom sneaker process. In this episode, Alicia and Ruben discuss:How Ruben turned his hobby and interest in sneakers and fashion into a successful business modelThe marketing strategies needed in different marketsRuben's experience at NBA Summer League and how it elevated his businessAdvice for anyone looking to break into the sports, fashion, and sneaker spacePrior to starting MajorWavez, Ruben worked retail for Guess and Urban Outfitters. While working in the retail space, he was customizing shoes as a hobby and showed potential as something more when notable designer Salehe Bembury reached out for a collaboration. This opportunity led to Ruben customizing shoes for the likes of A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and many others. Ruben finally turned his hobby into MajorWavez, opening his first experience-based store in Los Angeles. After watching the growth soar, Ruben has expanded his operations out to a second location in Las Vegas and hosts popup workshops at different events around the country. Ruben shares his big plans ahead in this episode and we are thrilled to have him as a friend of SBC. Follow SBC: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookFollow Alicia: LinkedIn | InstagramFollow MajorWavez: Instagram