Emotional warning for NBA rookies

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The day began joyfully enough with NBA rookies taking pictures for their trading cards.

The day ended with former drug addict and alcoholic and NBA player Chris Herren delivering his powerful, gut-wrenching and emotional story of substance abuse, wasted dreams and ultimately his ongoing recovery.

Shortly after NBA Commissioner David Stern gave a brief introduction to players at the NBA and National Basketball Players Association's Rookie Transition Program on Tuesday, Herren walked into the room.

"This is a living amends," Herren told the rookies in his compelling and rapid-fire delivery. "I come back here because I remember sitting in your seat. I remember my attitude. I remember my behavior and I remember sitting in your seats saying, 'None of this pertains to me.' "

Approximately 50 rookies and other young players who had not attended the Rookie Transition Program were rapt for an hour as Herren spoke. It was an intense example of how close a player is to having it all or having nothing at all.

"Growing up, you heard about it, but for him to actually come in and tell it from his perspective, it was an amazing experience," Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo said.

The players assembled in Florham Park for four days for the program which helps players make the transition into the NBA and assist them with fame, fortune and potential dangers of their new lives and lifestyles.

The program, which ends Friday, included financial, sexual education, philanthropic, social, business, media training and responsibility presentations as well as smaller breakout sessions.

"The goal is to provide the education, training and support that first-year players need as they transition into the NBA," NBA senior vice president of player development Greg Taylor said. "We know that's a big transition and it requires a lot of information, a lot of support and training. … The league, teams and union, we're all committed to helping these guys move forward."

The league and players union takes this event seriously. Minnesota Timberwolves rookie guard Shabazz Muhammad was sent home early for violating a program rule. He brought a female guest into his room hours after program directors spelled out the rules which included no guests.

The NBA and NBPA provide contact information for almost every situation, and players are encouraged to take advantage of the support system.

"There's so many resources they have for us," Oladipo said. "They don't have any reason to do what they do but they do it anyway because they want to see us be successful. It's really touching."

Ultimately, the seminar centered on this decision-making and how decisions impact a player's career and life.

"This program was derived by both labor and management – a joint collaboration," interim NBPA Executive Director Ron Klempner said. "It's one of the things we do together. There are a lot of things that we do apart, and there are things we do together, and those things we do together, we do them well. This is one of them. We collaborate on content, location on all of the details of the program. By this point in time, we've become really good at it."

The seminar is an eye-opener in a variety of ways – not just Herren's story or the graphic photos of what sexually transmitted diseases can do to the body. Those are extreme examples.

Deputy commissioner Adam Silver gave a presentation on the business side of the NBA, and financial advisors encouraged prudent spending. "Save your money early so you can have it late," Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum said.

Closer to home, NBA vice president of player development Rory Sparrow and NBPA director of player program Purvis Short gave players a two-way look at the 2003 draft. That class had plenty of success stories: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

But there's the other side. No. 2 pick Darko Milicic never averaged more than nine points a game and started just four games in his first four seasons. Troy Bell was the No. 16 pick in the draft. He played in six games his rookie season and never played another NBA game.

No one in that room realizes it or wants to realize it, but at least one of them will be one of those players – out of the league in less than five seasons. "Every year, someone is trying to take your job," Sparrow told the players.

But Sparrow and Short also said players don't need to be a James or Anthony to have a long, productive and financially rewarding NBA career. They pointed to Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour and David West – players who found a niche on the court, are strong locker room leaders and contributors to the community.

Philanthropy was a large part of the program. Stern stressed the importance of the league's community work, and Ivan Blumberg from Athletes for Hope, a non-profit group aimed at connecting athletes with charitable causes, guided players through the charitable process.

"Your time can be as valuable as your money," he said.

Oladipo is thinking about how he will contribute.

"I have a sister (Kendra) who is deaf, and I have family members who aren't as fortunate and giving back is huge," he said.