Matt Lloyd has been around the NBA long enough to see every side of the basketball and scouting world. His career began in 1994 with the Chicago Bulls, where he started as a game-day and special projects staffer before rising to director of college scouting.
He learned from the late Jerry Krause and spent six years under the mentorship of three-time champion and former GM John Paxson. Three decades later, after stints with the Magic and now the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lloyd has earned a reputation as one of the league’s sharpest evaluators — and one of the few willing to admit just how unglamorous the job really is.
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“I used to joke when you’re out at scouting, you have all these Marriott points because you just basically stay at the Courtyard Marriott, the Fairfield Marriott, the Marriott, etc,” said Lloyd, revealing he spent numerous days living in the suitcase.
“The perception is that it’s like very glamorous, but scouting can be a very frustrating type of outcome because no one can bat a thousand,” explained the Timberwolves GM. “There’s a lot of research that’s involved in scouting. I always liken it to going to a flea market, and if you go to someone at a flea market that’s selling a bunch of records, and you’re just sitting there and you’re kind of piling through the records, you finally eventually pull one out that you’re like, ‘Wow I can’t believe this is here.'”Â
The harsh truth of scouting
Many base their perception of scouting as a job on references from movies and television shows. However, the reality on the ground is very different, given the year-round travel and the limited resources available, such as hotel stays and transportation.
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Scouts watch hours of film and ensure the prospect meets the proper prerequisites. Apart from their talent and skills, scouts also need to assess other personality aspects like work ethic, coachability, and leadership from the limited information they have available.
Given the competitive nature of the industry, there is not much one can offer when it comes to job security. Sports Management Worldwide says scouts typically make between $50,000 and $100,000 per annum, depending on their experience, past records, and team budgets.
Lloyd believed players dictated their own success
The Timberwolves GM discussed a point beyond which talent controlled their own destiny. He alluded to external factors that were beyond their scope of work, including the type of situation and the players they were around.
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“A guy like Derrick Rose can come in, and he’s the situation. He would have been successful anywhere he went in whatever team had taken him, and it’s our responsibility to try to enhance the situation around other players. So scouting in and of itself is an incredibly fascinating field,” mentioned Lloyd.
The veteran executive gave his unfiltered analysis when breaking down the roles and responsibilities of NBA scouts. It revealed a side, making hoops fans wonder if there was more to scouting as a profession than what met the eye.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.