EARLY CAREER PROGRAMS

Inspiring a New Generation of Innovation

U.S. UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The NBA Internship Program provides participants with the opportunity to learn about the business of basketball, develop critical career skills and contribute to meaningful projects across a range of departments. Internships are paid and run for 10 weeks from June to August.

Interns are selected to work across one of our various departments, including Basketball Strategy & Analytics, Broadcast Operations, Facilities, IT, and Social Responsibility. Programming includes keynote conversations with senior leaders, professional development sessions, and social events. 


The application window for the 2025 NBA Summer Internship Program is now closed.

Applications for the 2026 Program will open in the Fall of 2025. Details will be shared here and on LinkedIn

NBA HBCU FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The NBA HBCU Fellowship Program, provides career development opportunities in the business of basketball for undergraduate and graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Fellows are selected by NBA teams and the league office to work within a variety of departments, including ticket sales, corporate partnerships, IT, social responsibility and marketing. The Fellowship Program is a paid 10-week summer internship program and runs from June to August.

We enlist the support of the NBA Foundation and their partners to assist with recruitment, programming, and logistics for this program.


The application window for the 2025 NBA HBCU Fellowship Program will open in December 2024. 

BUSINESS & BASKETBALL TRAINING PROGRAMS

The Business & Basketball Training Program is a series of virtual development programs in the key business areas of sales, analytics and basketball operations. By providing college juniors, seniors and those early in their careers with access to mentorship, networking and development opportunities, as well as real-world insights, the Future Sales Stars, Future Analytics Stars and Future Basketball Operations Stars programs connect current executives with the next generation of leaders in these fields.

Programming includes deep dives into the world of ticketing and partnership sales, Analytics 101, and various aspects of operating an NBA team, with potential on-site experiences for the basketball operations program. Participants also hear from guest speakers, engage in candid discussions on how to thrive in the sports industry and participate in skill-building sessions such as resume writing, interview preparation and networking.

Interested in any of the NBA Business & Basketball Training Programs? Submit your information here

NBA CHINA ASSOCIATE PROGRAM

The NBA China Associate Program is a two-year development initiative aimed at developing high-potential talent across the Asia region in a range of business functions. 

The program follows the 70/20/10 model: 70% of learning comes from hands-on experience, 20% from exposure to networks, and 10% from formal education. Associates gain valuable skills through job rotations, special projects, and training opportunities, preparing them for a successful career in the sports industry.

For those interested, the program opens every summer and details will be shared here and via LinkedIn.

BAL FUTURE PROS

As the first NBA-affiliated league outside of the Americas, the Basketball Africa League represents more than just basketball. The BAL Future Pros program is a 12-month internship that provides the opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes knowledge of operations, identify entrepremeurship opportunities within the ecosystem, and expand their professional networks. The internships are based in Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa, and Egypt. 

For those interested, the program opens every Autumn and details will be shared here and via LinkedIn.