THIS BAKER’S A BARISTA: FORMER NBA STAR THRILLED ABOUT HIS FRESH, SOBER START
July 28, 2015 · 5:1
POSTED BY:
STEVE ASCHBURNER
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2015/0...=iref:nbahpt6f
There is no way to sugar-coat the theme of the Providence Journal‘s story: It is about a fall from grace, or at least from a fall from the heights of professional sports success to one of those humdrum lives of quiet desperation the poets bemoan.
Vin Baker: NBA All-Star to Starbucks barista.
Baker played 13 seasons in the league, in fact, and participated in four All-Star Games. The 6-foot-11 product of Hartford averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds, enjoying his best seasons with Milwaukee (four) and Seattle (five). His career got derailed by alcoholism, leading to a quick churning through four teams (Boston, New York, Houston, L.A. Clippers) in his final four seasons.
He was out of the league at age 34, and apparently has lost much of his career earnings – nearly $100 million, according to basketball-reference.com estimates – through bad investments and regrettable decisions. Now he’s behind a counter in Kingstown, R.I., on Starbucks’ management track (with some time away at Bucks coach Jason Kidd‘s invitation to assist with that team during the Las Vegas Summer League).
Baker’s tale, as told by the Journal’s Kevin McNamara, includes details of his spiral out of the NBA and advice to the many, newly minted multimillionaires for ways not to follow in his sneaker steps. Here is a taste of the excellent, yet in its way all too familiar, story:
Now 43, newly married and with four children, Baker is training to manage a Starbucks franchise. He thanks CEO Howard Shultz, the former Seattle SuperSonics owner, with this opportunity. He’s also a trained minister who savors work at his father’s church in Connecticut. Most important, he has been sober for more than four years.
“In this company there are opportunities for everyone. I have an excellent situation here at Starbucks and the people are wonderful,” Baker says.
Hoop fans might shake their heads and view Baker’s life as a tragic, unfortunate fall from grace. Baker doesn’t see it that way. At all. He says his story is one of redemption, of conquering demons and searching for success in this next phase of life.
“When you learn lessons in life, no matter what level you’re at financially, the important part to realize is it could happen,” he said. “I was an alcoholic, I lost a fortune. I had a great talent and lost it. For the people on the outside looking in, they’re like ‘Wow.’ ”
…
Like all recovering alcoholics, Baker says every day is both a challenge and a blessing. He now clearly has the perspective of a middle-aged man, not a fresh-faced, 22-year old newly minted millionaire who’s the life of the party. He just wants a chance to keep bouncing back.
“For me this could have ended most likely in jail or death. That’s how these stories usually end,” he says. “For me to summon the strength to walk out here and get excited about retail management at Starbucks and try to provide for my family, I feel that’s more heroic than being 6-11 with a fadeaway jump shot. I get energy from waking up in the morning and, first of all, not depending on alcohol, and not being embarrassed or ashamed to know I have a family to take care of. The show’s got to go on.”
His tragedy doesn't have as much to do with alcohol as it does with marriage itself imho. Another example, Dirk has been in fast decline since he got married to that black and it ain't totally an age issue, meanwhile Duncan remains a top 20 player in the league even at age 39 because he stays away from pussies. A man has nothing to gain, everything to lose in a relationship or marriage, common knowledge tbh.
Duncan is living proof. His marriage cost him 1/2 (before his lost the $25) & his 1st 5th.
Turned that niqqer gray.
Why are you talking about someone else's money?
Ya piss pot, you. Couldn't even come down till after your 2nd 5th.
I spit on you.
Ok, but you are still talking about other people's money though. Why? Your stake in any of it?
After Blowing $100 Mil, Vin Baker is Working at Starbucks
Baker was great back in the day. I remember him nailing a game winner over Robinson in one of the games.
Lovely mid range game, great handles for a big, suspect defensive game. He was like an Aldridge prototype.
True. After getting clear of it, however, dude won his 5th and is going to win #6 next season.
serious? i thought he was always a scrub...nothing special about him from bucks/sonics days...
Vin Baker's face after the Vince Carter Olympic dunk...
Vin Baker still has more friends than Kobe
And has lost about the same amount of money as Duncan.Vin Baker still has more friends than Kobe
tee, hee.
In some advanced societies. Friends are more valuable than.paper money tbh.kobe
That's what they say. The ones who lost the $48.5 million.In some advanced societies. Friends are more valuable than.paper money tbh.
tee, hee.
he needs some lotion
& that NBA pension to commence.
he needs some lotion
At least he's putting his life back together. With the problems he's had he could just as easily be on the street or dead.
^7 bucks for a cup of coffee is still criminal.
FIFY DALE
At least he's working, that bum Antoine Walker is sitting on his crying about it
True. Walker and Baker blew through 210 milion combined though...that's more than the GDP of Poland.
Remember when he got traded for TOSB Patrick Ewing and both teams got worse? Oof.
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