These Former NBA Players Are Now Working Regular 9-5 Jobs
NBA stars live life in the spotlight for a little while, but athletes only remain in their prime for so long. These players retire when they're still young, which means that they can go on to have entire careers in fields other than sports and basketball.
Some players transition into more mundane jobs while others make a living in the entertainment industry. Some invest the money they've earned playing basketball while others like to live large. Read on to find out what some of your favorite retired NBA stars are doing with their lives now.
Scottie Pippen Is A Livestock Farmer
It took Scottie Pippen a long time to accept his retirement. One of the greatest Chicago Bulls of all-time, Pippen retired in 2004 and instantly regretted his decision. He spent the next several years trying to make a comeback, desperate to win a seventh ring.
Once Pippen accepted the comeback would never happen, he found a second career with his brother. Together, the two co-own a livestock farm in Arkansas. On the side, Pippen still makes appearances on television multiple times a year.
Shawn Kemp Is Now A Sports Bar Owner
Shawn Kemp played in the NBA for 14 years before retiring in 2003. This guy was a six-time all-star and was named All-NBA Second Team three times. Kemp didn't stray far from the sports scene after he retired. He opened a sports bar called Oskar's Kitchen in Seattle.
The bar was really a passion project for Kemp and he ran the joint until it got closed down in 2015. Still, keeping a bar open for twelve years is quite an accomplishment.
Vin Baker Works As Starbucks Manager
Vin Baker played in the NBA for a total of 13 years, and in that time, he was able to make a lot of money. Unfortunately, he lost a lot of his NBA money after struggling with alcoholism. Baker was able to recover, though. He now works as a manager at Starbucks and he's also a minister at his father's church.
Baker said, "I was an alcoholic, I lost a fortune. I had a great talent and lost it. For the people on the outside looking in, they're like 'Wow.' For me, I'm 43 and I have four kids. I have to pick up the pieces."
Michael Ray Richardson Is A Substitute Teacher
Michael "Sugar" Ray Richardson played professional basketball for 24 years. His career started in the NBA but was cut short in 1986 when the commissioner banned him for life. Richardson continued to play across the globe, spending 14 years in Europe.
Once he retired in 2002, Richardson got into coaching for a few years until he found his second love; substitute teaching. Now in his 60s, the former star works as a teacher in Oklahoma and runs a youth camp for underprivileged children.
Adrian Dantley Is A Crossing Guard
This might be the most surprising post-NBA job on our list. Adrian Dantley had a 15-year NBA career that ended with him scoring 23,000 points and being inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2010, Dantley, who had been coaching, left the league for good and became a crossing guard.
The low profile job reportedly pays Dantley $14,000 a year, so we know he's not in it for the money. According to the big man himself, he enjoys helping other people. It doesn't hurt the job provides health benefits, too. Dantley also works as a referee for high school and recreational teams during his spare time.
Charlie Ward Is A High School Coach
Charlie Ward is a true all-around sports star. He won the Heisman Trophy playing football at Florida State but when he wasn't drafted to the NFL, he shifted his attention to the NBA. He played 11 seasons with the New York Knicks before retiring in 2005.
Ward decided to spend the rest of his working days sharing his love of sports with young kids. He went into coaching at the high school level and was eventually named the head coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida.
LaRue Martin Works As A Community Services Manager For UPS
We're taking a trip down memory lane with an older NBA player: LaRue Martin. This man was selected as the first overall draft pick in 1972. Somehow, he didn't quite live up to his reputation and four years into his career, he left the NBA for good. He turned to a 9-5 entry-level job at UPS to make a living.
He worked his way up in the company and eventually became Community Services Manager in 2005. Martin also works on the Board of Directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
Dan Dickau Owns A Barbershop
Dan Dickau played well in college as part of Gonzaga University's team, but he just couldn't get his talent to shine in the NBA. He retired after six years of playing on the national stage. After his basketball career was over, he opened a barbershop called The Barbers in Washington.
This barbershop has been a huge success for Dickau. He's been able to keep the shop open for years. This former player also makes occasional appearances on ESPN Radio and the Pac-12 Network.
Bryant Reeves Is Now A Cattle Farmer
Bryant Reeves played in the NBA for six seasons, but then a series of injuries cut his basketball career short. After his stint in the NBA was over, he turned to cattle farming to make a living. This man really knows his way around a farm.
Reeves now owns a 300-acre cattle ranch in Oklahoma. Some kids dream of growing up to be professional basketball players, and some dream of becoming cowboys. Reeves got to do both.
Tim Duncan Is An MMA Fighter
Easily the strangest retirement choice on this list, San Antonio Spur legend Tim Duncan has been training as an MMA fighter since retiring. Currently, his training can only be considered a hobby, although his trainer is high on his potential, calling him "a monster" and "a legit contender."
While he waits for his MMA career to begin, Duncan keeps plenty busy running BlackJack Speed Shop, an auto body shop he opened in 2013. In 2017, the shop helped organize the delivery of needed supplies to Hurricane Harvey victims. In 2019, Duncan agreed to return to the Spurs as an assistant coach. He has no plans to sell his auto shop.
Greg Oden Went Back To School
The Portland Trailblazers selected Greg Oden with the first overall pick in 2007 hoping they had found the face of their franchise. Over an injury-riddled career, Oden only played more than 23 games once and retired with chronic foot problems.
With his NBA career over, Oden turned back to his academics. He took a job at Ohio State as the student managers of the men's basketball team. The position allowed him to go back to school and take classes to help him prepare for a second career.
Derrick Coleman Works As A Water Supplier
Despite a 15-year NBA career, Derrick Coleman was labeled as lazy by his coaches. They can't say that about his post-NBA life, which has seen Coleman work tirelessly to deliver water to families in need.
Coleman spends his days driving around Flint, Michigan, making sure its residents have clean drinking water. He says, "That's what I'm seeing. Distress. I'm seeing people who need help. I've seen the rust and everything that's in their water. Flint is like a ghost town, and it's sad... How can this happen here in America?"
Shandon Anderson Now Owns A Vegetarian Restaurant
Shandon Anderson actually won an NBA Championship in 2006 on Miami Heat. After his career in the NBA ended, Anderson shifted gears completely. He went to culinary school to learn how to be a vegetarian chef. He wanted to open his own vegetarian restaurant.
Anderson ended up working as an intern at Candle 79, one of NYC's most famous vegan restaurant. Eventually, he was able to open his own vegetarian eatery. His restaurant, called Drink Art opened in Atlanta. Unfortunately, it closed down after just one year.
Kenny Anderson Is A Camp Director
Kenny Anderson was comfortably living his life as a high school basketball coach when it all came crashing down. In 2013, he was arrested and charge with a DUI. The crime got him fired from his job.
It took him a while to rebound, but these days Anderson makes his living running basketball camps in Florida. He also still coaches, working in basketball travel league. His big goal is to get back into high school coaching, but he knows he can't rebuild his reputation over night.
Shawn Bradley Works As A Rancher
Shawn Bradley is known as one of the tallest players to step on the NBA court, especially during his time in the league. While he started out playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, he then wen to the New Jersey Nets.
However, he spent the majority of his career playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Aside from playing a role in Space Jam, after his retirement in 2005, Bradley decided to take his talents out in the field and bought a massive cattle ranch.
Evan Eschmeyer Is An Attorney
Drafted into the NBA in 1999, he played for the New Jersey Nets where he spent four years. However, he struggled to get time in the game due to knee problems, he played in 153 games scoring 421 points.
However, he forced to retire due to his knee in 2004. He then returned to Northwestern University where he played basketball in college and enrolled in the competitive JD-MBA program, where he earned both a law degree and an MBA. He has since worked as an attorney, entrepreneur, and director of finance for Atlas Tower.
Mark Blount Has A Fast Food Franchise
Mark Blount first started playing in the NBA in 1997. He joined the Celtics in 2001 and ended up retiring in 2009. Blount's basketball career wasn't anything spectacular, but he did make a lot of money as an NBA player. Blount invested that money in two Auntie Anne's Pretzel franchises.
He's been able to keep those franchises afloat, and he's loving life as a franchise owner and manager. It's not as exciting as the NBA, but it is tastier.
Brandon Roy Is Now A High School Basketball Coach
Many analysts believed Brandon Roy was on his way to a Hall of Fame NBA career when knee injuries derailed his future. Roy's knee never recovered correctly and he was forced to retire young. Initially, he attempted a second career in broadcasting, only to learn he wasn't a fit.
In 2016, Roy accepted the job as the head boys basketball coach at Nathan High School. In his first season, the team went a perfect 29-0. For his efforts, he was awarded the Naismith High School Basketball Coach of the Year Award.
Detlef Schrempf Is Now Involved In Coldstream Capital Management
Before becoming a basketball player, Detlef Schrempf majored in International Business in college. He played in the NBA for 16 years, but after he retired, he decided to put his business degree to good use.
Schrempf was hired as a business development officer for Coldstream Capital Management. Schrempf also tried to make it in the acting world for a little bit, and he even landed a small role on the hit show Parks and Recreation.
Darko Milicic Grows Apples
Darko Milicic likes to refer to himself as the biggest NBA Draft bust of all-time. Taken with the second overall pick in 2003, he jumped around the league until calling it quits with the Celtics in 2012. These days, Milicic lives a quiet life in Serbia growing apples.
Before settling into the simple life, Milicic trained to become a kickboxer in his home country. The violent sport wasn't a fit for the big man, who prefers to wander up and down the rows of apple trees on his 125-acre farm.
Vinnie Johnson Is The CEO Of Piston Group Manufacturing Company
Vinnie Johnson is fondly remembered by NBA fans as one of the "Bad Boys" of the league. With the Detroit Pistons, he won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. It was 1992 when he retired and found his true calling.
Johnson started Piston Group, a small manufacturing company that has grown into a multi-million dollar asset. Still working as the CEO, Johnson has proven he's much more than just an NBA superstar; he's a life superstar!
Birdman Wants To Play Basketball Again
The last time that Chris "Birdman" Anderson stepped onto an NBA hardwood floor was back in 2016-17 season when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A year and some change later, Andersen speaks and says he wants to be back out on the floor.
Staying in shape and hoping that a team will give you a call while you're not in the NBA is a job in itself. Many days go by where optimism and hope don't amount to anything. Hopefully, Birdman gets that call he wants.
Dennis Rodman Is A Political Ambassador
Dennis Rodman has never stayed out of the public eye. The NBA icon with a boisterous personality to match loves attention. So far, he has avoided a 9-5 job, but his post NBA career is too strange to not include here.
After retiring, Rodman got into professional wrestling. Once he couldn't do that anymore, he became a political ambassador, making his first trip to North Korea in 2013. When he came home, he called Kim Jong Un a "friend for life." He made a return trip to North Korea in 2017.
Gilbert Arenas Is An Analyst
Gilbert Arenas was not supposed to be as great of an NBA player as he was. He was drafted with the 31st pick in the 2001 Draft and ended up earning $163 million over his career. You'd think after retiring he'd refuse to work another day in his life.
Not Arenas. We guess he likes the grind. Since retiring we wouldn't say he has gone full 9-5, but he has stayed business as a sports analyst for Complex. He currently hosts a YouTube sports show for them.
Karl Malone Is Now A Truck Driver
Karl Malone's success as a professional basketball player left him with enough money in the bank that he would never have to work another day in his life. Even so, Malone wasn't ready to stop working just yet. He's invested money into several businesses and he still works part-time as a truck driver.
Malone has become quite passionate about the trucking industry. He obviously doesn't need the money, so he's just driving those trucks for the joy of the ride.
Oscar Robertson Advocates For Affordable Housing
An old school NBA star, Oscar Robertson was ascendant during his 14 year career. He was named an all-star 12 times and retired as one of the league's highest scoring guards ever. Still, his greatest accomplishment was his work to create affordable housing for African Americans in Indianapolis.
For his amazing efforts to improve his community, the University of Cincinnati honored Robertson with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2007. When he has time to himself, the NBA icon also enjoys woodworking.
Steve Francis Is Now An Entrepreneur
With nine NBA seasons to his name, Steve Francis called it a career to pursue other passion projects. One of those passions was music, leading to the formation of Mazerati Music. His attempt to start a hip-hop record label was forgettable at best, leading him to his next venture.
Following Mazerati Music, Francis started his own clothing line, We r One. Unofrtunately, all of his projects are on hold today while he sorts through financial problems.
Latrell Sprewell Is A Pitchman
Latrell Sprewell has always been a controversial name. Considered a superstar when he played, he marred his career by violently attacking Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997. After retiring in 2005, karma struck back. Sprewell was forced to foreclose his multi-million dollar houses and crashed his yacht.
All the drama led Sprewell to his new job, being a pitchman for Priceline. As part of his pitch to use the service, Sprewell admits to making bad life decisions. Hopefully he has actually learned his lesson.
Wilt Chamberlain Did A Little Bit Of Everything
Wilt Chamberlain retired from the NBA in 1973. At the time, he was the greatest to ever lace up on the court. After he retired, Chamberlain dipped his toes into every job pool possible, trying to find out what was right for him.
Ultimately, he ended up settling into life as a pitchman. Sadly, Chamberlain passed away in 1999 from heart failure. He might be gone, but his memory lives on forever, both in his highlight reel and his commercials.
Jay Williams Is A Spokesman
Jay Williams was supposed to be one of the best to ever play in the NBA. Drafted by the Bulls, the hype around the young star was real. Sadly, before his career even began, Williams got into a motorcycle accident. The Bulls cut him and his career was over.
Since overcoming the tragic loss of his career, Williams has become a spokesman. He is currently the facet of Visions Federal Credit Union. He also works on the side for ESPN as a college basketball analyst.
Antoine Walker Works As Financial Advisor
Antoine Walker made a lot of money over his NBA career. In 13 seasons, he made over $100 million. Of course, he still somehow managed to spend more money than he ad and filed for bankruptcy in 2010.
Three years later, Walker paid off his debts and began his second career. He took a job with Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment to teach financial literacy to up and coming stars. Who better to learn from than the man who realized it was a problem to own seven luxury vehicles at one time?
Adam Morrison Is Now A Coach
Adam Morrison's promising NBA career was put on hold when he tore his ACL in 2007. Although he recovered, he never become more than a role player on the Los Angeles Lakers. After he retired, Morrison made the decision to go back to school.
Not only did Morrison enroll at Gonzaga to finish his degree in sports management, he also took a position on the basketball team's coaching staff. Since joining the Zags, Morrison has moved quickly up the college coaching ranks.
Rony Seikaly Became A DJ
Rony Seikaly had a very successful 11 year NBA career. Upon retiring, he embarked on his second life as a DJ. Unlike some former players who failed to find success after the NBA as entertainers, Seikaly was a natural at his new job.
Since transitioning, Seikaly has played clubs in Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Ibiza. He says he never intended to become a full time DJ, but "the opportunity came organically and it seemed like it would be fun and it grew from there."
John Stockton Is A Basketball Coach
During his career in the NBA, John Stockton was known as one part of a dynamic duo with Karl Malone. He was known for his unselfish outlook on basketball always more willing to part of an assist rather than score the basket for himself.
After retiring from the NBA in 2003, although he decided to give up playing professionally, he didn't leave basketball behind entirely. While he was the assistant coach for the Montana State University Women's Basketball team, he more regularly coaches numerous youth basketball teams.
Bill Walton Is A Sports Broadcaster
Bill Walton started his basketball career playing for the UCLA Bruins in the 70s winning two national titles during that time. After school, he was drafted into the NBA where he played for the Portland Trailblazers winning MVP and two NBA Championships.
After retiring in 1987, he overcame a stuttering problem and became a successful NBA commentator for CBS, NBC, the Los Angeles Clippers, ABC/ESPN. After taking a break from broadcasting he came back to sports broadcasting full time.
Michael Jordan Is A Major Entrepreneur
Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, former Chicago Bulls powerhouse had no need for money after his retirement in 2003. During his time in the NBA he cashed in a total of $90 million although now has a net worth of $1.3 billion.
While he could have sat back and counted his money, he decided to keep working and now owns the Charolette Hornets as part of his job. Besides that, he also works and makes deals with massive companies such as Hanes, Gatorade, and more. He also owns a car dealership and seven restaurants.
Hakeem Olajuwon Is A Real Estate Dealer
Hakeem Olajuwon played for both the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors between 1984 and 2002 with back-to-back-championships in 1994 and 1995. He is also known for mentoring some other incredibly skilled players of today such as Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, among others.
While Olajuwon made some sound investments both during and after his NBA career, he knew that he could keep using his money wisely. So, today, he is a real estate dealer which keeps the money coming in.
Maceo Baston Owns A Successful Cupcake Store
While in the NBA Maceo Baston joined with the Toronto Raptors, then played for the Indiana Pacers playing for both teams twice over the course of his career. He traveled the world playing basketball in various countries until he decided it was time to hang up his basketball shoes.
He then started up a cupcake business with his wife called Taste Love Cupcakes in Michigan. Their business went on to compete in Cupcake Wars taking home $10,000. He's not so much the baker as the taster.
Tom Chambers Is A Sports Broadcaster
Tom Chambers is the only player to have scored 20,000 points over the course of his career and to be eligible for the Hall of Fame but isn't. He was the NBA All-Star four times and had a 16-year career with six different teams.
Today, Chambers works as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Arizona where he covers the Phoenix Suns. He also breeds horses in Utah although he describes that aspect of his life more like a hobby than an actual job.
Junior Bridgeman Is A Coca Cola Distributor
Junior Bridgman is currently worth $600 million after playing in the NBA for 12 years. He played from 1975 to 1987 where he played for the Lakers and later the Bucks. After retiring from playing ball, he used his money and acquired 450 restaurant franchises, most of which are Wendy's and Chili's.
However, most recently he sold many of his restaurants in order to work with Coca Cola. He is now a distributor for the Coca Cola company and the third independent bottler.
Chris Washburn Now Works For Mortgage Company
Chris Washburn is one of the biggest guys to ever play in the NBA. He was drafted as the third pick in 1986 and played for the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately drugs got in the way of his basketball career and was punished with a lifetime ban from the league after failing three drug tests in three years.
Finally, he decided to clean up his actin in 2000. It was then that he started a fried chicken business with his girlfriend. While that only lasted a year, he now works for a home mortgage company.
