
Pipeline to the Pros
How D3, Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA
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Narrated by:
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Barry Abrams
About this listen
Jeff Van Gundy. Brad Stevens. Frank Vogel. Mike Budenholzer. Tom Thibodeau. Sam Presti. Leon Rose. Before you knew his name, before he guided your team to a championship, he had a playing career of his own at an NCAA Division III college. He didn't play for fortune—the NBA was out of reach, and his school didn't even give athletic scholarships. He didn't play for fame—his games weren't televised, and the stands were rarely full. Whatever the motivation, he simply couldn't give up the game of basketball. And that didn't change after graduation, when it was time to pick a career path.
For the first time in league history, NBA coaches and general managers are just as likely to have played Division III basketball as they are to have played in the NBA. While the number of former D3 players working in the NBA is higher than ever, small college alums have served in leadership positions since the league's founding. They shaped the NBA into what it is today, playing integral roles in the Lakers' initial success in LA, the inception of several expansion franchises, the creation of the popular All-Star Weekend dunk contest, and the globalization of the league. Their improbable and inspiring journeys tell a bigger story—the history of small college athletics, the evolution of coaching and management in the NBA, and the hiring practices in the most competitive fields.
©2024 Ben Kaplan and Danny Parkins (P)2024 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Pipeline to the Pros
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- steven
- 11-04-24
For basketball junkies
Who doesn't love a story about how small college kids make good in the pros? This collection of those stories shows how D-3 grads not only made it to the NBA in some capacity, but how they've enriched the game with their dedication to hard work and Xs and Os. A book for gym rats and those of us who revere them.
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- Doctor
- 09-05-24
Bad narrator
The subject is interesting, the writing is fine (not great), but the narrator is awful.
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