Toronto Raptors President
President, NBA D-League
Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
Head Coach Austin Spurs
McMaster University Director of Athletics & Recreation
Head Coach, Texas Legends
Head of Human Resources at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Hershey Sportzone & Hershey Centre, Toronto - Home of the Raptors 905
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
The 2017 NBA D-League Showcase, is a 22-game, five-day event from 18-22, featuring the league's 22 teams playing two regular-season games each at Hershey Sportzone. This showcase is an annual event that attracts agents, scouts, and front office executives from all 30 NBA teams and international basketball organizations.
The Basketball Career Conference is a one-day event on Friday, January 20th, 8am-10pm to provide people of all ages with a desire to work in professional basketball insight and exposure they can't get anywhere else:
If you want to see your basketball career jump to the next level, the NBA D-League Showcase Basketball Career Conference is the event you need to attend!
This one-day event will feature panel discussions, Q&A sessions and networking events with some of the biggest names in the world of basketball. Attendees can expect to learn more about the business of basketball including:
If you want to start a career in basketball or advance your current one, attending the Basketball Career Conference is the move you need to make. Find out who is hiring and for what roles, network with basketball executives, and learn strategies to catapult your career to the next level.
"Our Basketball Career Conferences provide an invaluable opportunity for attendees to learn about careers in professional basketball while networking with some of the biggest names in the industry," says Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President of Sports Management Worldwide.
Past conference speakers have included team executives like the Chicago Bulls Gar Forman, New York Knicks Director of Player Personnel Mark Warkentien, and media members like ESPN insiders Amin Elhassan, scouts, personnel executives and many more experts from the world of basketball.
"All of the speakers and staff were knowledgeable and answered questions with great insight and experience," says attendee Jarrod Lindsay. "To be surrounded by so many influential names in the world of basketball left me feeling extremely motivated. What a great event to network and learn!"
Basketball careers start with Sports Management Worldwide, and our Basketball Career Conference is a great way to get introduced to the people behind the scenes that make the game great.
Hershey Sportszone (Same parking lot as Hershey Centre)
5600 Rose Cherry Pl
Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6, Canada
Hershey Centre
5500 Rose Cherry Pl
Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6, Canada
9am-4:30pm
Conference sessions will take place at Sportzone Extra Time Lounge and cover a wide range of topics including sports marketing, agency, basketball scouting and analytics, digital video editing, event management, media relations, journalism, and broadcasting.
4:30pm-5:30pm
Networking Happy Hour held in the Sportzone Extra Time Lounge: Network with basketball executives, SMWW staff, and other basketball conference attendees. Our networking events are always a great time. Everyone there is excited about the career conference, learning from each other and sharing a few adult beverages.
6pm Austin Spurs vs. Northern Arizona Suns (Tickets included to the Friday Night Games at Hershey Centre (Live on ESPNU)
8:30pm Raptors 905 vs. Long Island Nets (Tickets included to the Friday Night Games at Hershey Centre (Live on ESPNU)
A few hotels near Hershey Centre:
Sandman Signature Mississauga Hotel
5400 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4T4, Canada
1.3 miles (2km) from Hershey Centre
(This event is limited to the first 100 and will sell out fast!)
** Please note, conference fee does not include hotel accommodations
Walk-up registrations will not be accepted. Please register online in advance.
Speakers are not guaranteed. We are constantly making speaker additions.Keep coming back to this agenda to see the most recent additions.
8:00 am Registration opens (Continental breakfast provided)
8:45 am Welcome & Opening Remarks
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
9:00 am Sports Agency - Recruiting & Signing Clients in the NBA, NBA D-League and Overseas
Bret Kanis, Hightower Law Firm, NBPA Certified Agent
Jan Wieland, Blacktop Management FIBA Certified Agent
Trevor Whiffen, Dickinson Wright Partner
9:45 am Break
10:00am Opportunities in Sports Marketing, Sales, and Sponsorship
Tom Pistore, Toronto Raptors Vice President, Sales & Service
Kim Carter, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Head of Human Resources
Jonathan Chang, NBA Canada, Director - Marketing and Events
11:00 am Q & A with an NBA GM & NBA D-League President
Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors President & GM, Alternate NBA Governor
Malcolm Turner, NBA Development League President
12:00 am Networking Lunch (Box Lunch provided: sandwich, chips, fruit, salad, & assorted beverages)
1:00 pm Careers in College & University Basketball
Glen Grunwald, McMaster University Director of Athletics & Recreation & former Toronto Raptors GM and former New York Knicks GM
Graham Brown, U Sports CEO
2:00 pm Keynote Speaker: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Mark Warkentien, New York Knicks Director of Pro Player Personnel, SMWW Faculty
2:45 pm Break
3:00 pm Behind the Scenes of the NBA D-League Basketball (Career Opportunities in Basketball Scouting, Analytics, & Video)
Kyle Nishimoto, Reno Bighorns Video Coordinator/Director of Basketball Operations
Bob MacKinnon, Texas Legends Head Coach
Ken McDonald, Austin Spurs Head Coach
4:00 pm Closing Remarks - Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
4:30 pm Networking Happy Hour with basketball executives, SMWW staff, and other basketball conference attendee
Hershey SportZone Extra Time Lounge - Drinks, Sliders and Wings
6:00 pm Austin Spurs vs. Northern Arizona Suns
8:30 pm Raptors 905 vs. Long Island Nets
Thank you! We will let you know as soon as conference dates are announced!
BYU, Men's Basketball Director of Video and Strategy
It was great to hear feedback and stories from the experienced coaches and executives at various levels.
It was great to hear feedback and stories from the experienced coaches and executives at various levels.
I have attended numerous sports industry conference in the past and SMWW NBA D-League Showcase Conference was by far the most informative and inspiring. Information that provided me with tools, direction, and guidance to pursue a career in basketball. This conference has inspired me to keep working and hustling towards a career of my dreams.
I have attended numerous sports industry conference in the past and SMWW NBA D-League Showcase Conference was by far the most informative and inspiring. Information that provided me with tools, direction, and guidance to pursue a career in basketball. This conference has inspired me to keep working and hustling towards a career of my dreams.
Getting a job in pro basketball is all about separating yourself from the hundreds of other applicants and NetScouts/SMWW do just that. There's no substitute for being in arenas, seeing players in-person and learning what it means to be a scout on the fly. Building your skillset through courses then applying what you've learned to live game action is invaluable experience. NetScouts/SMWW had a huge role in molding me into a basketball operations professional and I use what I learned during my time in the apprenticeship program to this day.
Getting a job in pro basketball is all about separating yourself from the hundreds of other applicants and NetScouts/SMWW do just that. There's no substitute for being in arenas, seeing players in-person and learning what it means to be a scout on the fly. Building your skillset through courses then applying what you've learned to live game action is invaluable experience. NetScouts/SMWW had a huge role in molding me into a basketball operations professional and I use what I learned during my time in the apprenticeship program to this day.
The wealth of information and guidance provided by industry “heavy hitters” and networking abilities was a major benefit. Being a shy person, this conference helped me come out of my shell.
The wealth of information and guidance provided by industry “heavy hitters” and networking abilities was a major benefit. Being a shy person, this conference helped me come out of my shell.
Great knowledge from a great group of speakers!
A high level of knowledge with a variety of ways to get into the industry.
The speakers they brought in were outstanding!
This was a great event, great speakers, and a great organization!
I loved the access and insight from industry experts that you usually wouldn’t have access to – especially in Canada!
I loved the access and insight from industry experts that you usually wouldn’t have access to – especially in Canada!
I appreciated all the different opinions and insights provided to me by the number of speakers.
I appreciated all the different opinions and insights provided to me by the number of speakers.
Inspirational. Some of the best career advice a young individual like me could use.
I loved the access and insight from industry experts that you usually wouldn’t have access to – especially in Canada!
I loved the access and insight from industry experts that you usually wouldn’t have access to – especially in Canada!
The panelists were very engaging and helpful throughout the event.
This was a great experience and very informative!
The connections and networking from different parts of the world was the best part of this event.
The connections and networking from different parts of the world was the best part of this event.
I had a great time at the conference and learned a lot from all speakers. The diversity of speakers and lessons were very valuable. This was certainly worth the investment.
I had a great time at the conference and learned a lot from all speakers. The diversity of speakers and lessons were very valuable. This was certainly worth the investment.
My overall experience with this conference was the greatest! Hearing from Kyle Nishimoto, an SMWW Alum, and hearing where he has gone since the course helped me with figuring out how to get my foot in the door.
My overall experience with this conference was the greatest! Hearing from Kyle Nishimoto, an SMWW Alum, and hearing where he has gone since the course helped me with figuring out how to get my foot in the door.
SMWW has provided me with multiple chances to network with NBA personnel and the ability to have a mentor like Dean Oliver help me though my journey has been invaluable!
SMWW has provided me with multiple chances to network with NBA personnel and the ability to have a mentor like Dean Oliver help me though my journey has been invaluable!
A great conference for students and professionals interested in the NBA sports industry. There was so much knowledge and experience to offer from true professionals in the industry. A must if you want to make connections and network yourself properly.
A great conference for students and professionals interested in the NBA sports industry. There was so much knowledge and experience to offer from true professionals in the industry. A must if you want to make connections and network yourself properly.
The SMWW conference is a session that shows you that your dreams and goals are not unrealistic. The speakers encouraged us to keep chasing our dreams. Confidence and connections are two major components to make it and this conference provides both and much more!
The SMWW conference is a session that shows you that your dreams and goals are not unrealistic. The speakers encouraged us to keep chasing our dreams. Confidence and connections are two major components to make it and this conference provides both and much more!
Keegan Brown
