After earning large sums of money by playing in the NBA, retirement gives the league’s players the chance to start a new leap in their life. Some of them (like Shaq and Charles Barkley) decided to stay in the spotlight and move to TV. While others use the money that they have earned by investing in careers that are a bit more “normal” as others would call it. For example, Shawn Kemp went from being an NBA star to a sports bar owner, while Shandon Anderson turned to the kitchen by becoming a successful vegetarian chef. The stories of these people are incredible, and so are the other NBA players on this list!
Shawn Kemp: Owner Of A Sports Bar
Starting his successful NBA career as a 14-year-old, Shawn Kemp was known for being chosen thrice for the All-NBA Second Team and for being part of the all-star for six times. Despite retiring in 2003, Kemp really could not leave behind his love for the game, leading for him to open up a sports bar in Seattle named “Oskar’s Kitchen”. His sports bar is located in the Pacific Northwest, and kept the business running for as long as he possibly could. The bar was sadly forced to close in 2015, but Kemp continues his work in hospitality by being a co-owner of Amber’s Kitchen in Seattle.
Shawn Kemp: Owner Of A Sports Bar
LaRue Martin: UPS Community Services Manager
Larue Martin was the first overall NBA Draft pick back in 1972. He was a promising player, but four years into his NBA career, it seemed like his skills have diminished immensely and the league had to drop him. Since the ex-NBA player needed to make a living, he took up a UPS entry-level job. His hard work all paid off as he was later promoted to Community Services Manager in 2005. Aside from his 9-5 job, he is also a part of the board of directors of the NBRPA (National Basketball Retired Players Association).
LaRue Martin: UPS Community Services Manager
Mark Blount: Franchise Owner of Auntie Anne’s
Mark Blount joined the NBA in 1997, but he only made his 2001 debut, playing for the Celtics. He retired in 2009 after an unspectacular career and invested his money on two of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises. There’s also another former NBA star, who loves Auntie Anne’s. Shaq may not be added to this list, but he is also a proud franchisee of the classic snack stand. Next time you go to the mall to order a pretzel, try to see who’s working-you never know who’s going to be there.
Mark Blount: Franchise Owner of Auntie Anne’s
Dan Dickau: Owner Of A Barbershop
Dan Dickau is one of the best basketball players in the history of the Gonzaga University, but, unfortunately, his skills was not enough for the NBA. His professional career lasted just six years, and Dickau had no choice but to look elsewhere for jobs. The former college star successfully made a living by opening The Barbers in Washington, which has turned into a neighborhood favorite. Aside from owning and running his barbershop, Dickau has also made appearances on the Pac-12 Network and ESPN Radio.
Dan Dickau: Owner Of A Barbershop
Bryant Reeves: Cattle Farmer
Bryant Reeves AKA Big Country left the NBA after playing for six seasons as it appeared that his injuries had been too much for him to handle. He found success in living a quiet life in a peaceful farm by raising cattle. Reeves currently owns and runs a cattle ranch that covers a huge 300 acres in Oklahoma, and the nickname he received while playing seems quite apt. Reeves may have grown up with aspirations of playing in the NBA, but he seems to be enjoying the life he now has just fine.
Bryant Reeves: Cattle Farmer
Scottie Pippen: Livestock Farmer
Scottie Pippen: Livestock Farmer
Did you know that Scottie Pippen took a while before he accepted his retirement? Known as one of the greatest players in the history of Chicago Bulls, Pippen retired in 2004 but immediately regretted his decision and spent the following years hoping to have a comeback. Unfortunately for him, his comeback did not happen, but he found another career with his brother. The Pippens are currently co-owners of a livestock farm from Arkansas. Despite this, Pippen still occasionally show up on TV.
Tim Duncan: Car Shop Owner & MMA
A lot of people were shocked when they found out the San Antonio Spurs legend, Tim Duncan, has been training in the MMA. What a lot of people do not know however, is that he has actually been training since 2009. Despite his training being considered as a hobby, Duncan’s trainer stated that the former NBA star has great potential for the MMA. As Duncan waits for his MMA career to begin, he is kept busy by the auto body shop that he runs called BlackJack Speed Shop, which he and his partner opened in 2013.
Tim Duncan: Car Shop Owner & MMA
Chris Andersen AKA Birdman: Big3 Player
Chris Andersen has played in the NBA for over 18 years. His nickname, Birdman, was derived from the NBA player’s excess tattoos on his arms, chest, neck, back, hands and legs. As of the moment, Andersen plays in the Big3, a professional basketball league solely focused on 3-on-3 matches. The teams in the Big3 is composed of former NBA players, as well as international players. Playing in this league is the perfect option for those who can no longer play in the NBA but do not want to retire from playing just yet.
Chris Andersen AKA Birdman: Big3 Player
Karl Malone: WWE Star
With his amazing career in the NBA, Karl Malone made sure that he made so much money that he would never have to work again. After he quit playing for the league, Malone has invested a lot of money in a lot of business and has gotten into wrestling! His match at the 1998 Bash at the Beach with Diamond Dallas Page is Kurt’s most famous wrestling match. Their WWE team ended up losing to Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan.
Karl Malone: WWE Star
Greg Oden: Student
Greg Oden was the first overall pick and joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007, a team which selected Greg in hopes of turning him to the face of the franchise. Throughout his career filled with different injuries, Greg Oden played over 23 games before having to retire due to chronic foot problem. The former NBA player returned to his academics after his career and worked at Ohio State as the student manager for the men’s basketball team. The position allowed him to return to school, take classes, and prepare him for a second career.
Greg Oden: Student
Adrian Dantley: School Crossing Guard
Adrian Dantley enjoyed an impressive 15-year career in the NBA. Not only did he score 23,000 points during the course of his career, he also earned himself a spot in the Hall of Fame. He has also coached for Denver Nuggets before he left the NBA league for good in 2010 and became a school crossing guard. Surprisingly, this low-profile job is one of the most modest salary compared to the other post-NBA jobs on this list, as it was reported that Dantley was being paid $14,000 a year.
Adrian Dantley: School Crossing Guard
Detleft Schrempf: Business Development Officer
Before entering the NBA league, Detlef Schrempf took up Major in International Business in college, and after is impressive 16-year career in the NBA ended, Schrempf made sure that he put it to good use. After his career in the NBA, Schrempf took a job at Coldstream Capital Management as a business development officer. Aside from his day job, the ex-NBA star tried to take up acting. He portrayed a recurring character on the hit show Parks and Recreation, and seemed like a natural on camera.
Detleft Schrempf: Business Development Officer
Vin Baker: Manager At A Starbucks
Vin Baker had an incredible 13-year long NBA career, unfortunately, he lost his fortune due to his battle with alcoholism. He is currently working as a Starbucks manager and a church minister. He is aware of the looks that he gets from working as a Starbucks manager, but he has come to terms with that. Baker stated: “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.”
Vin Baker: Manager At A Starbucks
Brandon Roy: Basketball Coach At A High School
Brandon Roy unfortunately never recovered from his knee injuries, forcing him to retire at a young age. The former NBA player tried to start a career in broadcasting, but proved to be unqualified for the job, and in 2016, he started his job at the Nathan Hale High School as the head coach of the boys’ basketball team. The team had a perfect 29-0 in their first season, and the coach received the Naismith High School Basketball Coach of the Year Award for his efforts.
Brandon Roy: Basketball Coach At A High School
Shandon Anderson: Owner Of A Vegetarian Restaurant
With Shandon Anderson being one of the team’s role players, the Miami Heat was able to win the NBA Champion ship in 2006. After retiring, Anderson had to start over as he decided to return to school and become a vegetarian chef, planning to open his own restaurant someday. The ex-NBA star had his internship at Cancel 79, a famous vegan restaurant in New York. He later opened “Drink Art”, a vegan restaurant specializing in vegan Thai cuisine in Atlanta thanks to his internship experience, which unfortunately had to close after less than a year of opening.
Shandon Anderson: Owner Of A Vegetarian Restaurant
Charlie Ward: Head Coach At A High School
A lot of people are unaware that Charlie Ward won the Heisman Trophy as he played football at Florida State, but was later undrafted in the NFL. He then turned to the NBA in which he played for 11 seasons, with the majority of the years with the New York Nicks before ending his career in 2015. The former NBA player then turned to coaching high school level basketball, and in 2005, Ward became Booker T. Washington High School’s head coach.
Charlie Ward: Head Coach At A High School
Vinnie Johnson: CEO Of The Piston Group Manufacturing Company
Fondly remembered as one of the league’s “Bad Boys” by NBA fans, Vinnie Johnson was with the Detroit Pistons when he won titles both in 1989 and 1990. When he retired in 1992, he found his true calling and started the Piston Group, which used to be a small manufacturing company but has now become a multi-million dollar asset. Johnson continues to work as CEO and has proven that he is not just an NBA superstar, but also a life superstar!
Vinnie Johnson: CEO Of The Piston Group Manufacturing Company
Darko Milicic: Apple Grower
Darko Milicic proclaims himself as the all-time biggest NBA draft bust, probably because he was the second overall pick back in 2003. Milicic bounced around the league before joining the Celtics and later called it quits in 2012. While he took the time to train and become a kickboxer, he is currently leading a peaceful life on his 125-acre farm in Serbia. Needless to say, the aggressive sport wasn’t really fit for him and he seems to prefer to walk rows of apple trees up and down.
Darko Milicic: Apple Grower
Oscar Robertson: Advocate For Affordable Housing
Oscar Robertson, an old NBA superstar, had a stunning 14-year career, becoming a 12-time all-star NBA and one of the top scoring guards ever in the league. Still, his biggest achievement will have to be his work for building affordable housing in Indianapolis for African Americans in. Back in 2007, the University of Cincinnati awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate in Human Letters for his excellent efforts to better the community. The NBA icon loves woodworking when he has time as well.
Oscar Robertson: Advocate For Affordable Housing
Michael Ray Richardson: Substitute Teacher
Michael “Sugar” Ray Richardson had an astounding 24-year career in the League. Although Ray started in the NBA, the former NBA player also played in other leagues, mostly in Europe for 14 years. Richardson was banned in playing in the league for life in 1986, but he was later reinstated 2 years later. After retiring in 2002, the former basketball pro got into coaching for several years before he turned to teaching. Now in his 60’s he is currently a teacher in Oklahoma, doing basketball camps for children that are underprivileged.
Michael Ray Richardson: Substitute Teacher
Derrick Coleman: Supplier Of Drinking Water
Despite playing in the NBA for 15 years, his coaches still labeled Derrick Coleman as lazy. However, the opposite could be said about his life after leaving the league as the former NBA player works tirelessly to deliver water to a lot of families in need. He spends his time driving around Flint, Michigan to assure that everyone has clean drinking water. According to Coleman, he is seeing distress in the area, as he has seen rust and everything else that is in their water.
Derrick Coleman: Supplier Of Drinking Water
Steve Francis: Businessman
Steve Francis has nine NBA seasons under his belt, and he went on to do other passion projects after he left the league. One of those interests is music, leading him to create Mazerati Music. While his attempt to start a hip-hop record label was not really memorable, it led him to his next project. He began We R One after Mazerati Music, his own clothing line. Unfortunately, all his ideas are at currently on hold as he is dealing with financial issues.
Steve Francis: Businessman
Dennis Rodman: Political Ambassador
After leaving the league, Dennis Rodman went into professional wrestling, and after realizing that he could not keep up his work as a wrestler, the ex-NBA pro tried to become a political ambassador. He first went to North Korea in 2013 and as he came home, he referred to the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, as a “friend for life.” He later went to North Korea once more in 2017.
Dennis Rodman: Political Ambassador
Latrell Sprewell: Commercial Actor
A name that always came with controversy in the league would be Latrell Sprewell. During his time in the NBA, he was known as a superstar, but his career was ruined after his violent attack on P.J. Carlesimo, Warriors coach in 1997. After retiring in 2015, he was hit by karma as his multi-million-dollar house was foreclosed and his yacht crashed. The former NBA star found a new job by appearing in a Priceline commercial. In the ads, he admits to making bad decisions and hopes that he has learned his lesson.
Latrell Sprewell: Commercial Actor
Wilt Chamberlain: Practically Everything
Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973, but he was in fact the best player ever to have laced up on court at that period. To figure out which career was right for him, he tried his hand at any work pool possible after retiring. He settled into being a pitchman for life in the end. Chamberlain sadly died in 1999 due to heart failure but he is not really away as his memory lives on in his advertisements as well as his highlight reel.
Wilt Chamberlain: Practically Everything
Gilbert Arenas: Sports Analyst
People just didn’t expect Gilbert Arenas to be as good as he was as a player. He was the 31st pick in the 2001 Draft, but during his career, he ended up receiving $163 million. You would think he’d never work another day after retirement, but we assume he loves the grind. Ever since his retirement, he has not necessarily gone full 9-5, he has preferred to remain in the business. He is a sports analyst at Complex and is currently running a YouTube sports show for them.
Gilbert Arenas: Sports Analyst
Kenny Anderson – Camp Director
Kenny Anderson took up a job as a basketball coach at a high school after leaving the league, but in 2013 he was arrested and charged with a DUI, which had him fired. It may have taken him some time to recover, but by running basketball camps in Florida, Anderson is now making a living. He also continues to coach, operating in travel leagues for Basketball. The major priority of Anderson is to be able to go back to coaching in high school, although he knows he will not restore his reputation overnight.
Kenny Anderson – Camp Director
Jay Williams: Spokesperson
Jay Williams was supposed to be one of the NBA’s best players ever and the excitement around the young star was growing. He was drafted by the Bulls, but, unfortunately, he had a motorcycle accident before his career started, and the Bulls cut him, effectively ending his career. Williams has been a motivational speaker ever since he overcome his career’s tragic loss. He is also a spokesperson for numerous groups and has been the voice of Federal Credit Union Dreams. Not only that, he is also ESPN’s college basketball analyst.
Jay Williams: Spokesperson
Antoine Walker: Financial Advisor
Antoine Walker certainly made a lot of money during his NBA career, and in total in 13 seasons he made more than $100 m. Needless to say, he still spent all his money in some way and in 2010, he had to file for bankruptcy. Luckily, he paid off his debts three years later, and comfortably began his second career. He now works at Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Culture, teaching financial literacy to promising stars.
Antoine Walker: Financial Advisor
Adam Morrison: College Basketball Coach
Adam Morrison ‘s promising NBA career was put on hold in 2007, when the player ripped his ACL. He did recover but when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, he was just a role player. He made the decision to finish his degree in sports administration after retirement. He not only enrolled at Gonzaga when he went back to school, but also took a coaching role on the basketball team. Morrison has quickly risen through the ranks of college coaching ever since he joined the Zags.
Adam Morrison: College Basketball Coach
Rony Seikaly: DJ
Rony Seikaly embarked on yet another journey after his very prosperous 11-year NBA career and began his second career as a DJ. After leaving the league, some former players may have struggled to find success as entertainers, but not Seikaly-he is a natural. He has performed in clubs in Las Vegas, New York, Miami, and Ibiza since his transition. Seikaly says he never planned to become a full-time DJ, but “the opportunity came organically, and it seemed like it would be fun, and it grew from there.”
Rony Seikaly: DJ
John Stockton: Youth Basketball Coach
John Stockton was known to be one half of a dynamic duo alongside Karl Malone during their time in the league. Stockton was known for his unselfish basketball outlook, always eager to be part of an assist instead of scoring the basket himself. He gave up playing professionally after he retired from the NBA back in 2003 but he did not completely leave the sport behind. He has coached the Montana State University women’s basketball team and regularly coaches a lot of youth basketball teams as well.
John Stockton: Youth Basketball Coach
Bill Walton: Sports Broadcaster
The basketball career of Bill Walton began in the ’70s when he played for the UCLA Bruins, where he won two national titles. He had been drafted and joined the Portland Trail Blazers after playing college ball and won two NBA Championships and an MVP award. Walton overcame his struggle with stuttering after retiring in 1987 and went on to become a prominent NBA commentator. He worked for NBC, CBS, the Los Angeles Clippers and ABC / ESPN, and then took a break from broadcasting. Now Walton is back in full-time broadcasting on sports.
Bill Walton: Sports Broadcaster
Michael Jordan: Businessman
Known as basketball’s “Greatest Of All Time”, Michael Jordan really did not have to work anymore after retiring in 2004 as he had amassed a total of $90 million by playing in the NBA. As of the moment, Jordan’s current net worth sits around $1.3 billion. With the amount of money that he has, the basketball superstar could have just sat back and not do any work, instead, he continued grinding and is now one of the owners of the Charlotte Hornets.
Michael Jordan: Businessman
Hakeem Olajuwon: Dealer Of Real Estate
Hakeem Olajuwon has played for the Houston Rockets between the years 1984 and 2002, where he won back-to – back championships in 1994 and 1995. He is also known for mentoring other incredibly talented players, including Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Dwight Howard. While playing in the league and after, Olajuwon made some very good investments and he knew he could use his money wisely. Olajuwon is currently a real estate agent and the money continues to flow in.
Hakeem Olajuwon: Dealer Of Real Estate
Shawn Bradley: Cattle Rancher
Shawn Bradley is considered to have walked on court as one of the tallest NBA players. He began by joining the 76ers in Philadelphia but later he went on to play for the New Jersey Nets. However, Bradley spent most of his career with the Mavericks of Dallas. In addition to playing a part in Space Jam, Bradley decided to take his talents elsewhere as he started to operate a massive cattle ranch after retiring in 2005.
Shawn Bradley: Cattle Rancher
Maceo Baston: Owner Of A Cupcake Store
Maceo Baston played for both the Toronto Raptors and the Indiana Pacers throughout his career in the NBA. By playing basketball in various countries, he went on to tour the globe before deciding to hang up his jersey. He and his wife then started a Michigan cupcake company named Taste Love Cupcakes. In Cupcake Wars, their company competed and won $10,000. While the former basketball star doesn’t really bake, he definitely does his job as the taster.
Maceo Baston: Owner Of A Cupcake Store
Tom Chambers: Sports Broadcaster
Did you know that despite not being in the Hall of Fame, Tom Chambers scored 20,000 points during his career? With a career that lasted 16 years, he is certainly worthy as he had been a four-time NBA All-Star. Chambers currently a sports broadcaster for Fox Sports Arizona and covers the Phoenix Suns. He also breeds horses in Utah, but he does not consider this part of his life as an actual job but rather a hobby.
Tom Chambers: Sports Broadcaster
Junior Bridgeman: Distributor For Coca Cola
With a net worth of $600 million, Junior Bridgeman joined the Lakers, and later the Bucks when played in the league from 1975 to 1987, spanning a total of 12 years. After his retirement from basketball, the former NBA player used his earnings to acquire 450 franchises of known restaurants (mostly Chili’s and Wendy’s). However, he recently put up a lot of his restaurants on the market for him to work with Coca Cola. Bridgeman is currently a Coca Cola distributor as well as a third independent bottler for the company.
Junior Bridgeman: Distributor For Coca Cola
Chris Washburn: Works For A Home Mortgage Company
Chris Washburn joined the Golden State Warriors as a third selection in the 1986 NBA draft. Unfortunately, after he failed three drug tests within three years, he was barred from the league for life. Needless to say, this ended his career in basketball, but he later made a decision to improve in 2000 and cleaned himself up. He and his girlfriend started a fried chicken business around this time, and although that only lasted a year, Washburn is now employed at a home mortgage firm.
Chris Washburn: Works For A Home Mortgage Company
Evan Eschmeyer: Lawyer
Evan Eschmeyer was drafted in 1999 and spent four years with the New Jersey Nets. Owing to his knee issues, however, it was not easy for him to get playing time, and he only appeared in 153 games and scored 421 points. In 2004 his knee eventually forced him to retire. He then returned to the University of Northwestern, where he played basketball in college, and enrolled in the highly competitive JD-MBA program, receiving both an MBA and a law degree. Since then, Eschmeyer has worked as a lawyer, as an entrepreneur and as Atlas Tower’s Director of Finance.
Evan Eschmeyer: Lawyer
Jonathan Bender: Medical Device Mogul
In the 1999 draft, Jonathan Bender was the 5th overall selection, making the jump straight out of high school into the NBA. Sadly, his physical prowess and 7-foot frame was a high school suit, but the NBA was an entirely different league. Jonathan decided to retire early and developed a medical device to relieve the knee pain he suffered with. He hoped his JBIT MedPro (also known as JB Intensive Trainer) would benefit other athletes as well as himself. The pain-relieving medical device in turn improves training, rehab, recovery, and physical therapy.
Jonathan Bender: Medical Device Mogul
David Harrison: McDonald’s Man
David Harrison was a McDonald’s All-American player in high school, before later joining the NBA. However, personal problems and pot smoking did not last long in the game, leading him to retire early. The former NBA player was forced to work at McDonald’s without a college degree, but later left after just 2 weeks. We do not think serving fries and milkshakes was up his alley. The life of this NBA player went full circle from McDonald’s player to the McDonald’s server.
David Harrison: McDonald’s Man
Larry Bird: Actor
Indiana native, Larry Bird was the 6th overall pick in the 1978 draft. He was chosen by the Boston Celtics and continued his entire 13-year career wearing green. After his retirement, he went on to appear in a number of films. He appeared in Blue Chips in 1994, Space Jam in 1996, and Celtic Pride that same year. Larry is also the inspiration for the alien named Larry Bird in the TV show The Neighbors.
Larry Bird: Actor
Clyde Drexler: Real Estate Investor
Clyde Drexler was in the NBA for 15 years, also known as “Clyde the Glide” throughout his playing career. During his career, he was named a 10-time All-Star and was also on the list of The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Drexler started investing in real estate during his rookie NBA season, and hasn’t stopped ever since. While mostly retired, he still oversees Drexler Holdings LLC ‘s downtown office in Houston.
Clyde Drexler: Real Estate Investor
Shaquille O’Neal: Conductor
Shaquille O’Neal has had a wildly successful NBA career, but retirement has not stopped him from working. Shaq has a love of music, so after leaving the league he decided to put it to good use. Shaq has released 5 studio albums and 1 compilation album in total. He also appeared on Michael Jackson’s 1995 album HIStory on the song “2 Bad”. Shaq has recently moved into conducting and was the 2018 Boston Symphony Hall ‘s lead conductor for the Boston Pops Orchestra.
Shaquille O’Neal: Conductor
David Robinson: Builds Schools
Before retiring in 2003, David Robinson played center for the San Antonio Spurs for the duration of his career. He created and sponsored a non-profit private school for inner-city kids called Carver Academy a few years before he put his basketball uniform away. In 2012, the San Antonio initiative became a charter school for the public and was renamed to IDEA Carver. David is also highly active in the school, as he is almost always assisting in various school activities.
David Robinson: Builds Schools
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: U.S. Global Cultural Ambassador
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is, as you probably already know, one of the best to have ever graced the NBA. Upon his retirement, his career heated up as he took up other projects such as being an actor, basketball coach and a best-selling author. He is best known for being selected by State Secretary Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. Cultural Global Envoy. Did you think that was impressive? He topped off his previous achievement in 2016 when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Barack Obama.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: U.S. Global Cultural Ambassador
Herb Williams: WNBA Coach
Born on February 16, 1958, Herb Williams started his career as the first-round draft choice of the Indiana Pacers and spent 18 seasons in the NBA, from 1981 to 1999. He may have retired, but he did not walk away from the basketball court. He is currently the WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) assistant coach for the New York Liberty. He was hired by the Big Apple team in 2015 and is still there today.
Herb Williams: WNBA Coach