The 9 to 5 Hustle: These Guys Are Working Hard Since Retiring From the NBA

Retiring From the NBA

When it comes time to hang up their basketball shoes, a lot of pros start to think about what they’d like to do heading into a new phase of their lives. For many, the allure of continuing a career in the spotlight draws them to Hollywood, while others choose for a quieter existence, living off their earnings after investing their money in various ventures. The list of stories is incredible and endless, echoing how it’s possible to still have a successful second wind in your career, regardless of whether it may feel like you’ve peaked in something. The NBA stars on this list are a testament to this, reaching new heights that many of them couldn’t have imagined.

Vin Baker: Starbucks Manager

After a career spanning more than a decade, NBA star Vin Baker was set up for life, or so it may have seen, with career earnings totaling in the millions. A battle with alcoholism would drive him to the brink, however, and all these years later he now has a job as a manager at Starbucks, while also working part-time as a minister at his father’s church. Baker isn’t ashamed of the downgrade in his career, coming to grips with the fact that his alcoholism contributed to him losing his fortune and to some extent, his good reputation. While outsiders are quick to judge, Vin remains practical about his decision, citing that his age and the fact that he has four kids means he has to “pick up the pieces”. Kudos to him for taking full responsibility. Since 2017, Baker got back into the basketball world, heading the basketball department at Camp Greylock, and in 2019 an assistant basketball coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Shawn Kemp: Cannabis Store Owner

With fourteen years under his belt at the NBA, this six-time all-star retired in 2003. Stepping away from the court, Shawn Kemp didn’t want to leave the sport entirely. This inspired him to open a sports bar in Seattle, called “Oskar’s Kitchen”. The business was a challenge for the NBA star, especially as the economy continued to tighten over time. The bar managed to keep its doors open until 2015 until it became time for him to close this chapter and move on to a new endeavor. He later became a part-owner of “Amber’s Kitchen”, also in the Seattle area, and earlier this year, he opened a Cannabis store in Seattle, Shawn Kemp's Cannabis.