Every year, a new group of rookies are drafted into the National Basketball Association with hopes of leaving an indelible mark on the league. While each player selected has lofty expectations about showcasing their skills with their new team, the transition to the professional ranks goes far beyond the basketball court. This is where the NBA's Rookie Transition Program (RTP), a pioneering initiative launched in 1986, plays a significant role. 

As the longest-running program of its kind in U.S. professional sport and in conjunction with the NBA and the National Basketball Players’ Association, the RTP takes place over several days during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The program was created to empower incoming players with the essential tools for navigating the immense financial, personal, and social pressures of NBA life.

Dylan Harper, drafted second overall by the San Antonio Spurs, spoke about how the RTP helped him to see just how much the NBA is investing in his success on and off the court.

“I really enjoyed the Rookie Transition Program, being interactive with all the guys, and just going through different stations with them,” Harper told BET. “It’s been great.”

He also revealed that one of the lessons he learned was how to avoid scams on social media, and why he’s taking that aspect of the RTP seriously as one of the top players of the 2025 Rookie Class.

“We had a session about catfishing where we looked at a girl’s Instagram to see if it's real or not,” Harper explained. “That was the realest session we had. When you transition into the league, man, you gotta look out for the catfish.”

Drew Franklin, Associate Vice President, Player Development at the National Basketball Association, shared how the Players Association is committed to making sure each rookie class has every player development resource from the league at their disposal.

“In my current role, I help build programs that help personal professional development for players. We do that by managing the network of all team player development personnel in the league, providing resources, guidance, and then we also do our direct-to-player programming, which is what the Rookie Transition Program is,” Franklin shared. 

“When you have new players coming into a league, and they need to understand not only the rules of the game and the business side of the league, but also the mentorship and the cultural components to maintain whatever success they want in the NBA and beyond,” Franklin continued. “The player experience has evolved, so we're trying to spread out and accumulate the entire RTP curriculum. Because Vegas is the first touch point where players are about to play a whole week and experience some of their first NBA competition, the goal is to give the guys something that they can explore and be exposed to at that moment.”

Jeremiah Fears, the seventh overall selection of the New Orleans Pelicans, said it’s imperative to exhibit professionalism now that he’s in the league. The RTP exposed him to several ways that he can develop as a player and as a young man.

“We are learning how to carry ourselves as professional athletes. They taught us a lot about catfish profiling, what it's like behind the scenes of the NBA, and everyday stuff that you would need to know about the league, “Fears explained.

He also detailed how impactful it was to have former NBA players share their experience with the rookies and how learning from veterans has been extremely helpful. 

“I got to talk to Shaun Livingston and Eddy Curry, who shared some of their knowledge and wisdom that they gained from their time in the league,” Fears added.  “It was just super dope. I picked up a lot of good information. I made sure to put it somewhere in the back of my head so I can remember when the time comes.’

Throughout the program, topics include financial management, Mental health, social justice advocacy, community engagement, decision-making, and more. Morgan Cato, Executive Vice President of Operations at NBPA, noted that preparation for rookies at this critical juncture of their careers will set them up for long-term success.

“The Rookie experience is unique but pivotal for all athletes, NBA players specifically. I think what we've been able to do very well within the NBA landscape is try to prepare the players for what to expect at this point in their lives,” Cato explained. “When you're transitioning from a college setting to an 82-game, nine-month schedule, being away from your family and needing to perform consistently, it’s not always easy. The program is intended to meet the guys where they are and prepare them for the journey of the rookie season.”

Following the Summer League, the rookies will gather for part two of the program in August to expand upon everything they’ve learned during Summer League. According to Cato, the RTP is an alignment with the Player’s Association’s mission, which is  “to protect and advance the rights of our players. They are the game.”

“In late August, all of the players will go a bit deeper into everything from media training and engagement to financial literacy to officiating,” Cato said. “It's more of an intense exposure where they get to work on team building and communication,” Cato said. “By the time they're ready for training camp, they know exactly what to expect.”