How To Become A Professional Basketball Player: What It Is and Career Path

What is a professional basketball player and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A professional basketball player is a paid athlete who plays the sport of basketball.

Professional basketball players are responsible for playing hard on the court in games and in practice and doing their best to represent their team in public. They are obligated to play at their best level in every game they are on the court. They must also report to practice and participate whenever they are scheduled by the coach.

Professional basketball players can play a variety of positions, including point guard, shooting, guard, and power forward. They must be able to perform the necessary skills in all areas of the game, including ball handling, shooting, and passing.

To become a professional basketball player, one must possess great physical fitness and endurance. Running speed and jump height are two crucial factors for any basketball player, and some take special courses aimed at improving the distance they can jump vertically, going as far as walking around with weights on their feet for entire days.

Professional basketball players are traditionally tall as this gives them a competitive advantage in the sport, but some shorter players have also managed to find success in the leagues. Traditionally, joining a team for a player of medium to short height would be more difficult than for one who's exceptionally tall.

Becoming a professional basketball player takes a lot of hard work and dedication to perfecting your skills and being in peak physical condition.

ScoreProfessional Basketball PlayerUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $51,882

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 36%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 3.75%

Black or African American 8.90%

Hispanic or Latino 7.49%

Unknown 6.79%

White 72.83%

Gender

female 17.45%

male 82.55%

Age - 33

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 33

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

0.9

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a professional basketball player

Explore professional basketball player education requirements

Most common professional basketball player degrees

Bachelor's

83.7 %

Associate

10.2 %

Master's

2.8 %

Start to develop specific professional basketball player skills

Skills	Percentages
Championship	21.24%
Role Model	13.03%
NBA	10.09%
Training Sessions	9.12%
Leadership	6.10%

Research professional basketball player duties and responsibilities

Gain leadership abilities that directly translate into the professional workplace.
Mentore junior players; develop team-building and leadership activities include in programs manual.
Study and apply basketball fundamentals and utilize mass communication techniques in advancing media and public relations.
Participate in track races all over California with the ultimate goal of competing in the Olympics.

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