The 25 players with the most successful post-NBA careers

During his playing days, Jordan was one of the most famous people not just in basketball or sports, but in the world. And yet, young NBA fans today might know him best for his business ventures. His Jordan brand continues to help define basketball, while he maintains direct involvement in the NBA via his ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets.

Johnson has perhaps been busier after his time on the court than during it. Following retirement, he made an impressive transition into the business world, amassing a net worth of over a billion dollars thanks to a portfolio spanning real estate, sports ownership, entertainment, and more. His sports connections remain strong, as he's a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Washington Commanders.

Shaq isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to business, as he's routinely a spokesman for seemingly countless brands and products, in some of which he has a stake. His investments have ballooned his net worth to hundreds of millions of dollars. Of course, he's also one of the most beloved sports media personalities thanks to his years on Inside the NBA.

Bridgeman was a very solid NBA player for over a decade, but unlike most other players on this list, he didn't build his post-playing career based on star power. Instead, he just made fantastic business decisions. He died in 2025 and did so a billionaire, thanks to his investments in fast-food restaurants and becoming a Coca-Cola bottler and distributor, among other endeavors.

Jackson had a 12-year playing career, but he unquestionably had a bigger impact on the sport as a coach. He's one of the most successful coaches not just in NBA history, but in sports history. Leading Michael Jordan's Bulls and Kobe and Shaq's Lakers, he guided his teams to 11 championships, more than any coach in league history.

Barkley was one of the biggest personalities in the league when he was playing and he carried that into retirement, too. Very shortly after playing his last game, Chuck joined Inside the NBA, and his fun demeanor helped the show become one of the biggest programs in sports. Through it all, he never compromised, always presenting an unfiltered version of himself.

Riley had a decent playing career, but he's easily better known for what he did after. Following prosperous coaching stints with the Lakers and Knicks, he moved to Miami to coach and later devoted himself to serving as the team's president. At each point in his basketball career, Riley has found success.

Bradley is an Olympic gold medalist and was an All-Star for the Knicks in the '70s. After his playing days, though, he shifted his focus to politics and found significant success. He served New Jersey as a senator for multiple terms, and in 2000 he was the runner-up to Al Gore in the Democratic Party's presidential nomination race.

After playing, West had a brief coaching career, but what he really took to were executive roles. As the Lakers' general manager in the '80s, he helped the team win six championships. He's now in the Hall of Fame, as both a player and contributor to the sport.

In his playing days, Kerr was a valuable role player who sometimes had a major role in his team's success. He turned out to be more of a star when it came to coaching, as he led the modern Warriors dynasty. In tandem with his star player, Stephen Curry, he and his team have essentially reshaped how basketball is played.

Bird is one of the all-time greats and not just on the court. After retirement, he got into coaching and even won a Coach Of The Year award. He later served as the Pacers' president of basketball operations and won an Executive Of The Year award. Basically, Larry Legend remains a winner.

Even though his post-NBA life was cut short by his tragic death in 2020, the gears were already in motion for long-term success. He was an early investor in BodyArmor, which was a big venture-capital win. He even won an Academy Award for this 2017 short film, Dear Basketball.

Kareem was a thought leader while he was still playing, and he continued on that path in his retirement. Especially in the 2010s, he became active as a writer, including with his Mycroft Holmes series of novels. He's also been eager on the social justice front and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Like a number of former NBA players, Hill has gotten involved in ownership: He's a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks and the Baltimore Orioles. In recent years, he has also become a lead at USA Basketball, helping shape the country's Olympic present and future.

For years, Rose has enjoyed a high-profile career in sports media, most notably as a regular on-air contributor at ESPN. He's also the founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a charter school in Detroit. He even wrote a best-selling book, Got To Give The People What They Want.

Doc was one of the league's best floor generals for a spell, earning an All-Star nod in 1988. He's been even more successful as a coach. He picked up the Coach Of The Year award in 2000 (his first year coaching in the NBA) and won a title with the Celtics in 2008.

Wade only just retired in 2019, but he's already done a lot post-playing. He hasn't strayed too far from the NBA as he's a part-owner of the Utah Jazz. Wade has also long been involved in philanthropic efforts, and he even hosted his own game show, The Cube.

Kidd earned ten All-Star appearances over the course of his 19-year career. When it was time to hang it up, he couldn't stay away from the game and got into coaching. Kidd had some struggles in his early coaching stints in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, but has enjoyed more success in Dallas, including a Finals appearance in 2024.

Miller followed the classic former-player-to-broadcaster timeline, but he's fared better at it than most. He became a lead analyst for major NBA coverage, thanks to his credibility as an on-court star and his personality, which landed him big-time opportunities. This has helped him remain a consistent presence in the lives of basketball fans for years.

As aforementioned, Inside the NBA is a sports media juggernaut. Before Shaq and Charles joined the show, though, it was Smith at the helm alongside Ernie Johnson. Smith's cool demeanor and thoughtful analysis help bring a needed grounding force to the show.

Jefferson is another recent retiree, but he has quickly become a leading force in NBA broadcasting. His articulate style and fun personality made him a quick favorite, even while he was still playing and hosting the Road Trippin' podcast with Channing Frye. Now, he's a core part of ESPN's NBA coverage.

Ainge was part of those championship Celtics teams in the '80s, but he made a comparable impact on the franchise as the team's general manager. He was a respected negotiator, making some huge trades, most notable to acquire Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and later trading for the draft picks that would become Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Carter only left the NBA a few years ago, but he didn't waste time getting involved in the media. He started with ESPN and later found his way to NBA On TNT and NBA On NBC. He and cousin Tracy McGrady are also partial owners of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

Nash didn't take time off after retiring from the NBA in 2015. He eased into his post-playing career with a consulting role for the Warriors, then he coached the Nets for a couple of years. He has tried out media, too, by co-hosting the Mind The Game podcast with LeBron James and joining Amazon Prime's NBA coverage team.

Webber has done a bit of everything since leaving the NBA. He regularly works as a TV analyst. He has taught multiple college courses. He's even gotten into music, collaborating with iconic rapper Nas on a couple of songs.