Amherst Reads Pipeline to the Pros: How D3, Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA

From the publisher:

For the first time in league history, NBA coaches and general managers are just as likely to have played Division III basketball as they are to have played in the NBA. While the number of former D3 players working in the NBA is higher than ever, small college alums have served in leadership positions since the league’s founding. They shaped the NBA into what it is today, playing integral roles in the Lakers’ initial success in Los Angeles, the inception of several expansion franchises, the creation of the popular All-Star Weekend dunk contest, the globalization of the league, and more. The narrative is anchored by the story of Andrew Olson, Amherst Class of 2008, who is now a shooting coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

About the author:

Ben Kaplan '09 graduated from Amherst College in 2009, where he gained an intimate understanding of Division III athletics as both a member of the varsity basketball team and a student assistant in the sports information department. He is currently an analytics executive in the sports and entertainment business.