Get it now
The Basketball Podcast: EP360 with Cherokee Parks on Athletes Transitioning and Self-Discovery
In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, NBA Player Development manager Cherokee Parks joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on athletes transitioning, communication, and self-discovery.
After retiring from playing, Parks transitioned into significant roles within NBA infrastructure. He became a pivotal figure in NBA Player Development, working directly in the league office to create programs, strategies, and developmental pathways for emerging players.
His work in the NBA office focused on:
- Designing player transition and development programs
- Creating educational initiatives for rookies
- Developing strategies to support player growth beyond on-court performance
- Bridging communication between players, teams, and league management
Parks’ role in basketball operations leveraged his playing experience and administrative expertise to shape the next generation of basketball professionals. He remains connected to the game through various advisory and developmental roles.
Parks played college basketball at Duke University under coach Mike Krzyzewski and won the 1992 national title during his freshman year. During his collegiate tenure from 1990-1994, Parks was a critical component of Duke’s basketball success.
Drafted 11th overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Parks played for nine seasons for multiple NBA franchises including the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Listen Here:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Stitcher
Art19
Cherokee Parks Quotes:
“These players now are playing, like we went to Vegas. They’re playing on center stage and these big arenas and things like that. And so I think the overall experience of support is trickled down to a much younger demographic. And I think that the the younger group through these experiences is cultivating a more mature player.”
“ I find being in a moment and being with the person you’re talking to and listening to them and and being intentional about what you’re talking about and how to communicate yourself.”
“I think that’s what you see when we go out and do things together is I really embrace that. Those moments that we have together and catching up. And those times it doesn’t have to be about basketball all the time because we’re there watching ball and doing things. A lot of times it’s, we’re fun catching up on other things. And and the game has brought us together.”
“ A lot of them are asking the other parents what it is that they’re doing that they have found that works for them, because they’re in the trenches. I don’t think there’s a field general that could be out there that could lead better than these parents are leading right now.”
“A player can show up and not even be thinking about basketball at all…”
“ You can have all the money and all the basketball experience in the world, but if you don’t have that life experience you hit that, that, that kind of dry spot where you figure out what you want to do.”
“ Some of our best games, we ever had our pickup games are in these little crevices or little side gym somewhere where just these games end up being epic and there’s nobody there.”
“But the Christian Laitner shot against Kentucky, my freshman year. And you probably heard other players say this, but. Coach K laid it out exactly how it was going to happen in our timeout. He said exactly how the defense was going to get set up, how we were going to inbound the ball, how Kentucky was going to set up their defense. He called it play for play and it happened exactly as that shot went down. It’s exactly how Coach K drew that up in the timeout. It was absolutely incredible.”
Cherokee Parks Breakdown:
Cherokee Parks Selected Links from the Podcast:
Cherokee Parks
Kawhi Leonard
Coach K
Christian Laettner
Please Support the Podcast
As we build our podcast following please take the time to support the Basketball Podcast. Our goal is to openly share as much useful basketball coaching info to stimulate your coaching.
- Tell your friends about us.
- Give us a shout out on social media.
- Give us a five star review wherever you listen to podcasts.
How to leave a podcast review at iTunes
Go to the iTunes page of the Basketball Podcast.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-basketball-podcast/id1398261897?mt=2
Click the View in iTunes button.
View in iTunes
At iTunes, click the Ratings and Reviews tab.
Select Ratings and Reviews
Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.
Submit a brief honest review.