You Are Not Just an Athlete: How to Build a Personal Brand That Makes You Money

Listen Up, Future Money-Makers

These days, athletes are more than stats, highlights, and aspiring hometown heroes. They are walking brands, whether they realize it or not. But if they play it right, that brand can make them money—big money—on and off the field.

If athletes are serious about making their name hold weight long after the buzzer sounds, it’s time to stop thinking like just an athlete and start thinking like a business. Let’s talk about how to build a personal brand that secures bags, endorsements, and opportunities beyond sports.

True Story: My oldest child is currently working in media at the University of Nevada, Reno and 2 of my 3 youngest have stated that they want to have a career in sports media and marketing. If an athlete is in high school, especially if they have a desire to have a great career after sports, having a personal brand helps immensly. It’s essential.

Step 1: Own Your Story (Before Someone Else Does)

People don’t just connect with talent—they connect with stories. What makes you you? Is it your work ethic? Your underdog journey? The way you overcame adversity? Whatever it is, package that up because brands and fans eat that up.

🔹 Example: Ja Morant isn’t just a hooper; he’s the kid who got overlooked, kept grinding, and became a superstar.

🔹 Your Move: Start telling your story in interviews, on social media, and in everyday conversations. Make sure your narrative stays consistent because if you don’t own your story, the media will create one for you—and it might not be flattering.

Step 2: Clean Up Your Social Media (Yes, Even Your Old Pictures, Tweets, and Posts)

Look, if you ever tweeted something wild back in middle school, now’s the time to delete it. Brands aren’t handing out six-figure deals to people who got problematic tweets lurking in the shadows.

🔹 Your Social Media Must-Haves: ✅ A professional but real Instagram feed (hoop videos + personality + life outside sports) ✅ A Twitter or Threads that shows your thoughts without wild takes that’ll get you canceled ✅ A LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn—because brands and CEOs are watching)

🔹 Your Move: Go through your old posts, clean up the nonsense, and make sure your accounts are giving marketable, charismatic future superstars—not high school trolls with no media training.

Step 3: Get Comfortable in Front of the Camera

If you want sponsorships, interviews, or even TV gigs after your playing career, you gotta know how to talk.

🔹 Practice This: 🎤 Speaking in full, clear sentences (no “uhh… you know what I’m sayin’” every 5 seconds) 🎤 Answering interview questions with personality 🎤 Smiling (seriously, you look better doing it)

🔹 Your Move: Record yourself answering fake interview questions. Watch it back. Would you listen to you? If not, practice until you would.

Step 4: Start Partnering with Brands NOW

You don’t need to be LeBron to get a deal. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) laws, even college and high school athletes can get sponsorships. But companies aren’t just throwing money at anybody. You gotta show them you’re marketable.

🔹 How to Get Noticed by Brands: 🔥 Engage with their content (comment, like, share—make them see you!) 🔥 Tag them when you use their products (without begging for a deal) 🔥 Post quality content that aligns with their brand values

🔹 Your Move: Identify 5-10 brands you align with and start building relationships organically. If you’re really about your business, create a media kit (a simple PDF showing your stats, audience, and why brands should rock with you).

Step 5: Build a Legacy, Not Just a Moment

The goal isn’t just to “go viral.” The goal is to build a brand that keeps your name ringing long after you stop playing. That means making smart career moves, connecting with the right people, and always protecting your reputation.

🔹 Think Longevity: 💡 Build relationships with media and journalists 💡 Invest in learning about business and branding 💡 Never let one bad moment ruin your entire career (think before you tweet, post, or react)

🔹 Your Move: Write down how you want people to describe you in 10 years. Start making decisions based on that version of yourself, not just the hype of today.

Final Play: The Bag is Waiting—Go Get It!

Branding yourself as an athlete isn’t just about playing well. It’s about controlling your narrative, using social media wisely, getting media-trained, and securing business opportunities that outlive your playing days.

The athletes who get this are the ones who keep getting checks long after retirement. The ones who don’t? They fade away.

You decide. 💰🔥

🚀 Need Media Training or PR Help?

If you’re serious about leveling up your personal brand and securing deals, let’s connect. I coach athletes on how to move smart in the media world. Let’s do it! 💰

Click here to get started.