The Harvard Crossover Into Business Class of 2025.
For Spencer Jones, forward with the Denver Nuggets, the NBA’s player engagement programs have provided an opportunity for growth and development, giving him a chance to build on his basketball career and chase success into the future.
Jones, along with 10 other current and former NBA players, recently enrolled in the Harvard Crossover Into Business program, an annual class linking athletes and Harvard Business School students that was developed through a partnership with the league.
Nuggets forward Spencer Jones attends the Harvard Crossover Into Business program.
“I’ve always looked at a career beyond basketball. These days, a career is only three to five years… so I knew I’d have to have a career afterwards,” Jones said after taking part in the program’s on-campus opening weekend. “You’re thrown into the business school process, and get a really good sense of what it’d be like.”
Jones said he has particularly enjoyed meeting students and taking in case studies at Harvard, as he grows his network and furthers his education.
As part of the program, students and athletes analyze the case studies – 10-to-15-page articles that describe decisions that companies and executives face, from LeBron James deciding between video-game endorsement opportunities to Live Nation’s partnership with Pharrell.
Jones with Harvard Business School students.
By doing so, they gain a sense of business at the highest level, allowing them to analyze a company’s business models and the decisions of stakeholders over time.
Other participants in this year’s Harvard Crossover Into Business program include: Colby Jones, Matisse Thybulle, Michael Carter-Williams, Egor Demin, Day’ron Sharpe, Haywood Highsmith, Markieff Morris, Nicholas Richards and Norman Powell.
“It’s all the upper echelon,” said Jones.
The semester-long program runs into the winter, with players making final presentations to the class in November and December.
Previously, Jones participated in the NBA’s Business Mentorship Program, which links athletes with a professional executive to aid with their interests and development.
He became close with his mentor, Quin Sandler, chief executive officer of Plantiga, and invested in the company.
Jones said Sandler has helped him analyze pitch decks, linked him with other people in the venture capital space and offered guidance as he pursues his goals of becoming part of the technology and angel investing spaces.
Plantiga builds insoles that measure the force, movement and gait of athletes during practices and game action, which have provided a boost to his career as well.
“One, (the Plantiga insoles help) me get more information on my body, and two, I get to analyze the product himself (with Sandler),” said Jones. “(The mentorship has) really helped me analyze other investment opportunities and other products for their validity.”
Through his efforts, Jones said he can be at greater peace during the season, confident in his future, with an entrepreneurial mindset that bolsters his performance.
He will hop on a call after the Nuggets arrive at a hotel or spend some time on LinkedIn a few times a week, bringing authenticity to the space as an athlete while remaining close with the people he met as a student at Stanford.
“A lot of this is because I have that NBA brand, so that pushes me to continue to work as hard (with the Nuggets), make sure I’m devoting my time to my obvious main job,” said Jones. “The fact that I have stuff going on, it takes a little pressure off the day. One bad performance, you don’t have to feel too bad about it.”
Erjaam Hayes, director, NBA Player Development, said the Harvard Crossover Into Business program was a natural fit with the league’s goal of helping players further their’ off-the-court interests and professional development.
Hayes said the league seeks to offer players the chance to grow, building on their passions and interests to link them to opportunities available for professional athletes.
“Basketball is what you do – it’s not who you are. Our goal is to help players explore their interests and passions,” said Hayes. “Taking advantage of that time while you’re playing in the league.”
