(Ep074) Alex McLean: Turning Down Julliard for a Life in Basketball and Leadership in the NBA
Imagine being born with a gift for music, playing piano, drums, and bass so well that you were recruited by Julliard and other top music schools, but then giving it up because it was too easy and you really loved basketball. That was the path chosen by Alex McLean, who didn’t play organized ball until he was 18 and then had to learn the game at two junior colleges. His dedication eventually earned a college scholarship to Liberty University, where Alex became a prolific scorer and rebounded.
But though he got good enough to star in several pro leagues overseas, Alex took another diversion when he gave up playing to start his coaching career. An unexpected call from the Washington Wizards led to him overseeing G-League assignments, and he worked his way up to lead the team’s player development. Alex has also become a go-to coach in women’s basketball, working with the likes of Kiki Rice and Paige Bueckers, and recently started a school with his business partner to give back to the DC community.
Listen up as Alex shares:
Why he turned down a lucrative pro deal in China to become a GA for $800 a month at Liberty U
How being the first player in the gym for a year can help you win a roster spot
What Paige Bueckers finishing a training session with one shoe showed about her
How John Wall’s Achilles injury and a commitment to serving helped establish his NBA career
Why doing the unseen work today prepares you for tomorrow’s opportunity
Learn from Alex’s lead-by-example mentality on Instagram @alexmcleanbball
