The NBA isn’t the only option for basketball players in high school or college who want to advance their careers. For many elite athletes, playing professional basketball abroad has proven to be a feasible alternative.

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How do you get there, though? And what prerequisites exist?

It might be difficult for ballplayers to understand how to get a professional contract. Fortunately, a specialist was able to help me understand the procedure.

Pro Connect’s creator, Justin Rubin, has assisted more than 500 athletes in signing professional contracts in more than 30 nations since his founding in 2018.

He has established a vast global network of clubs, GMs, agents, and coaches throughout that period. Having seen and experienced it all, he is now disclosing the real story behind the procedure.

How difficult is it to play basketball abroad?

Playing basketball abroad is sometimes associated with the idea that anyone can do it. But getting hired abroad is really difficult!

There are thousands of athletes in D1, D2, D3, JUCO, and NAIA colleges, yet each year only a small number of professional contracts are made available to rookies. It’s much more difficult to get a contract because most foreign teams only have a few number of places available for American players each season.

Rookie contract landing is made simpler for players who attend more prestigious Division 1 institutions since these players are always more marketable. However, I have witnessed and assisted a number of players who competed in D2, D3, JUCO, and NAIA to secure contracts abroad; however, these players usually began their careers in lower-tier, lower-paying competitions.

The NBA is far more profitable than international basketball, and very few players in the latter league will be able to get lucrative positions.

What qualifications are needed to play basketball abroad?

To demonstrate these foreign teams, you must have a track record and college experience (video and numbers). Your prospects of getting a contract abroad are slim if you played collegiate basketball but have no footage or statistics to show for it.

It is always more marketable to play D1 than D2, D3, JUCO, or NAIA. Players sometimes ask me if they can play internationally without attending college. The short answer is no—playing collegiate basketball is a must for any shot at a professional career.

The next thing to do is to confirm that you have your passport. That passport will be required for travel and frequently for signing up for an overseas team or league. Before you begin planning a trip overseas, take good care of your passport.

Find out if you may hold dual citizenship with another nation. Because most foreign leagues only let a small number of Americans (Imports) on the squad, it is more difficult to get a contract.

You too may get your citizenship if your parents were born abroad or hold citizenship in another nation. In addition, in the event that your grandparents were foreign-born, you could qualify for second citizenship.

Investigate your family’s past since it will significantly improve your chances of getting a contract. Ancestry.com is a fantastic resource for this kind of information. You might be surprised by the outcomes!

If you are granted dual citizenship, you will be regarded as a native of that nation, which will facilitate contract negotiations because foreign clubs tend to have a larger number of native players than imports (Americans).

What information ought to include on my resume?

To get hired by a corporation, a resume is a must for every college graduate. In addition to showcasing their qualifications for the position, employers might review a CV to determine a candidate’s suitability. A basketball CV is no different; it must include your footage, accomplishments, college coach recommendations, and data from your time in school.

Make sure your resume doesn’t contain any “fluff.” What’s fluff? extending the appearance of your resume by adding unnecessary content. Teams don’t want to read articles explaining why you are superior to every other player they will be assessing, nor do they want to hear your whole life narrative.

Players include personal anecdotes far too frequently. Although it may sound harsh, coaches don’t want to read a résumé that tells a lengthy tale because this is a business. They want you to deliver and support the success of their team.

They won’t even give you a chance if you don’t have a résumé to show foreign teams. @pro_connect provides resume writing and design services if you are not familiar with resume writing or if you need to refresh your resume. Don’t forget to get in touch with us if you want a professional CV.

How’s my highlighter tape doing?

Make sure you don’t just record yourself slam the ball for five minutes while creating a highlight reel. That isn’t the purpose of basketball.

You must also remember that basketball played abroad differs greatly from basketball played in the United States. Defense, grabbing rebounds, hustle work, and most importantly, being a team player and motivating your teammates are all stressed by teams. Playing as a team and having solid fundamentals are essential components in international basketball.

Highlight videos should not exceed two or three minutes. Anything above that, coaches will just not watch, and if they notice that your tape is ten minutes lengthy, they might not even open it.

It’s imperative that you prepare two complete games to showcase these squads. Your talents will always be shown in a two to three minute highlight reel, but a whole game displays your entire offensive and defensive repertoire. How do you perform during the entire process?