An honest look at how NBA scouting actually works
NBA scouting isn’t just watching games.
It’s projection, preparation, relationships, research, and patience.
This book explains how the job actually works and what to build if you're serious about getting in.
What this book gives you:
How NBA scouts evaluate beyond stats and highlights
How front offices are structured, and where people actually enter
What teams actually ask for: assignments, rankings, travel schedule, report templates, and how to be ready
Why projection matters more than performance
How meetings, reports, and draft prep really work
The realities of pay, travel, and timelines
How to prepare like a scout before you have the title
Who this book is for:
Aspiring NBA scouts who want an honest roadmap
Basketball professionals considering front-office paths
Students exploring careers in basketball beyond playing or coaching
People who want to understand how NBA decisions are actually made
What this book is NOT
It's not a guarantee. It's a framework.
This is not a promise of a job. It’s not a shortcut.
And it’s not written to impress.
It’s written to prepare you so you can decide if this path is even right for you.
Excerpt from Breaking In Without a Jersey
What Teams Actually Ask You For
Most scouting work isn’t open-ended.
It comes in assignments.
You’re not asked to scout everyone. You’re asked to answer specific questions, by specific deadlines, with other people relying on your work.
Prior to the draft, a common assignment would be something like this:
You’re given a group of six players.
You’re told to watch at least two games on each.
You’re assigned specific games so the group isn’t duplicating work.
Before the call, you rank them.
Then you get on a two to four hour call and discuss them.
Those calls aren’t casual. Everyone has watched. Everyone has an opinion. You’re expected to explain why you ranked players the way you did and how you see them projecting.
It’s about projecting what will survive when the game speeds up, the role shrinks, and the margin for error disappears.
If you’re only reacting to what you see, you’re already late.
