National Basketball Association (NBA) players aren’t just good at basketball. They are also educated, and some pursue their academic interests after their careers. Fans are always amazed that their favorite players are well-read because most pursue basketball and not further their studies. In this article, we share a list of some of the most educated NBA players.
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Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo received a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) scholarship that took him to the United States to study at Georgetown University. The Congolese-American desired to pursue medicine, but because he was recruited to play basketball, the Congolese focused on the game.
As a result, he worked as a summer intern at the World Bank and Congress. Mutombo later graduated with a degree in Linguistics and Diplomacy.
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Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown is one of the most educated NBA players. He attended Joseph Wheeler High School. Brown later joined the University of California, where he studied magnetic chemistry at the master’s level. The basketballers also intended to study three foreign languages before the age of 25.
Additionally, the Boston Celtics’ shooting guard is interested in history, philosophy and meditation. Reports allege that he ran the risk of being overlooked because of his intelligence. Nonetheless, Brown was drafted in 2016 as a first-round, third-overall pick by the Celtics.
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Russell Westbrook
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The Los Angeles Clippers point guard scored a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.9. Westbrook received an academic scholarship to join Stanford University but declined as he was also keen on basketball. He eventually went to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he developed his basketball career. The baller was drafted as a first-round fourth-overall pick in 2008 by the Seattle Supersonics.
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Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most educated NBA players. He holds a Doctorate in education from Barry University. The former basketballer also took a program in Human Resource Development. His pursuit of education began at Louisianna University where he graduated with a degree in General Studies and a minor in Political Science. O’Neal is reportedly interested in pursuing a law degree.
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Victor Oladipo
Although he was interested in basketball, Victor Oladipo was also interested in academics. Oladipo received multiple offers to play college basketball but turned them down in favour of Indiana University. There, he graduated with a degree in Sports Communication before he was drafted into the NBA in 2013. Oladipo’s first team was Orlando Magic. He’s played for:
- Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Indiana Pacers.
- Miami Heat.
- Houston Rockets.
These are some of the most educated NBA players, past and present. A basketball career is demanding. Thus, those who balance it with studies are highly admired. Sports is a short career, which is why young athletes are encouraged to consider furthering their education. It gives them an alternative when their careers come to an end or if their careers end abruptly.
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