Its unexpected given the background of many of the players, but their are some really impressive entrepreneurs and businessmen among the NBA-alumni. It seems theres not much middle ground after their playing days are done, they either go bankrupt or have fairly successful business careers.
Magic Johnson
Shaquille Oneil
Junior Bridgeman
Jamal Mashburn
Magic worked as a kid cleaning the office of two prominent black businessmen in Lansing. He credits their mentorship with sparking his initial interest in business.
Magic's original business, a sporting goods store in Los Angeles called Magic 32, failed. It made him realize that he needed to learn more and he actively sought out mentors.
Recently he was in Michigan for a charity and a young high school football star in Saginaw asked him to become his business mentor. Johnson without hesitation said yes.
A lot of pro athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds where they haven't really become used to managing money beyond a hand-to-mouth way of living and then all the sudden they have tons of money in their laps that seems limitless. So basically a lot of them end up burning through it all and being essentially broke after their careers end.
I see where you are coming from but I think it's worth mentioning that a disproportionate amount of people born in the upper classes have also never had to manage their own money.
Expertise in their core domain does not transfer to other domains and you can be as good with your body as any because of discipline and hard work it doesn't say much about how good you are going to be when the work does not involve your body.
Doesn't work always involve your body? Your brain is a muscle and part of your body, right? Not to mention be healthy plays a huge role in your productivity. Learning how to be discipline and focus is something all professionals of all levels work to get to and maintain. So, if they're able to transition that energy and concentration once out of the sport, it's to no surprise they'll be successful.
i can't speak to their respective backgrounds, but there was an ESPN documentary not too long ago that explored the post-playing career trajectories of professional athletes for major sports
Magic Johnson Shaquille Oneil Junior Bridgeman Jamal Mashburn
And plenty of other http://www.complex.com/sports/2015/06/nba-players-who-are-al...