Also called: NBA G League Player, Developmental League Player
Plays in the NBA's official minor league, hoping to get called up to the NBA.
G League players practice and play in smaller arenas, with NBA scouts watching every game. Two-way players split time between the G League and an NBA team. It's the last step before the big league.
Estimate. Standard G League contracts pay about $40k for a season; two-way NBA contracts pay several hundred thousand.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. Most athletes start as kids and compete through high school and college; no degree is required, though many earn one.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Kinesiology, Sports Management.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS projects 5% growth for all athletes and sports competitors (2024-34), but roster spots in each league are nearly fixed, so competition is extreme.
Low risk for 10 years. AI scouting helps teams find call-ups; playing stays human, but pay is modest and spots are scarce.
Classes: Weight training PE, NCAA-approved core courses, Business basics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.