Most NBA players enter the league at a very young age, often just 19 or 20, with instant access to large financial opportunities, whether from contracts or endorsements. Most would agree that those two things don’t mesh very well.
Although most players aspire to play in the league, a significant number also seek the luxurious lifestyle that accompanies it. While most players had a challenging upbringing, without any real financial knowledge, they don’t know how to manage their money properly.
Wth most careers spanning just four or five years, the money goes away quickly, especially if there are no adequate investments to keep it rolling in.
In a 2020 interview, Draymond Green discussed the underlying reasons behind the problems most young athletes face.
“We grew up in these neighborhoods where you see the fast life, spend fast, make fast,” he said. “That’s what we’re all accustomed to. If there is one thing I would tell myself is, ‘Save that money until you truly know who you are.’ Because you end up spending money on things that, in a year, they don’t even matter to you, because you’ve evolved so much.”
“It’s like, ‘Why did I even buy that?’ But you bought it, like, six months ago. You’re kind of thrusted in this life where you are forced to grow at a rapid pace. And, six months later, that thing that you thought you wanted so badly, you wasted money on,” Green added.
Green’s advice to young players
In the players’ space, Green is regarded as one of the best investors. He started building a diverse and successful portfolio early in his career. With a strong track record of great investments in many partnerships and startups, most notably the one in SmileDirectClub, which yielded a 40x return, it’s safe to say that Green has some valuable knowledge that young players should be absorbing.
“Save until you truly understand who you are. There is no way to understand who you are coming out of college. For me, it was 22 years of age; for most guys, it’s 19 or 20. You don’t have a clue of who you’re going to be in a year. Save the money until you can identify the things that you love and things of value. Yeah, you spent money on it, but that thing still holds value on your balance sheet,” Green added.
Green also implied that the influence of celebrities, such as athletes and hip-hop artists, is so significant that the real perspective gets lost. On every media platform, LeBron James can be seen driving a Ferrari and living the most dreamed-of lifestyle. But even though everybody wants to be like James, not everybody can be him.
With that, James worked to get to where he is now, making smart moves every step of the way. He focused on what really mattered: building his basketball legacy and creating generational financial wealth, which ultimately gave him an opportunity to live at the highest level.
A stoppage to the problems
Perhaps James’ example is too extreme, since we probably won’t see someone like him again. But the truth is that exposure to all the glamor can be very misleading if the players aren’t smart enough. Many went bankrupt after their careers due to this. When money stops, lifestyle stops.
Because of this, the NBA and its former players are starting to encourage the younger generation to become financially literate, which means choosing the right financial advisor, building their investment portfolio as soon as they receive their first paycheck, and developing the right spending habits.
With today’s contracts being larger than ever, as well as the opportunities to build generational wealth and financial knowledge, the players shouldn’t really have any excuse.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.