WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.
Position Summary
The 2026 NBA Summer Internship is a 10-week program that runs from June 8 – August 14, 2026. The program gives participants the opportunity to learn about basketball, develop critical career skills, and contribute to meaningful projects across a range of departments in the NBA and its affiliate leagues (WNBA, G League, NBA 2K) In addition to on-the-job experience, interns are invited to participate in a broad array of professional development programs and community and social experiences.
The program prioritizes rising seniors, with limited exceptions for graduate students, based on business need.
Interns should reflect excellent academic standing and have strong written and verbal communication skills. Additionally, we look for candidates who possess leadership skills as demonstrated through relevant extracurricular or community activities.
More information on the Summer Internship program experience can be found here.
Role Overview
Selected interns will aid in the development and management of media, merchandising, licensing, and marketing partnerships with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Major assignments may include market research on sales and new business opportunities, preparation and support of partnership meetings, and detailed analysis of market opportunities. Additional responsibilities may include the day-to-day assignments to support on-site events and activations, content capture, and preparation for partner development conversations.
Past interns have worked across a range of departments, including:
- Global Partnerships, which develops and manages marketing and merchandising partnerships with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. The group works closely with these partners to leverage our commercial assets (including league and team marks, marketing rights, game imagery, brand integrations, and league events and experiences) to drive storytelling and connections with fans of the NBA and its affiliate leagues.
- Global Media Distribution, which manages relationships with the NBA’s domestic and international television and digital media partners. The group oversees the distribution of NBA and affiliate league games and programming content in more than 200 countries and territories.
- Digital Media, which creates and manages digital products that extend the league’s global reach. The Digital Media team manages all of the league’s social platforms, websites, and other digital products across the NBA, its affiliate leagues and related teams.
Major Responsibilities
May include, but not limited to:
- Working with our global business development team to pursue prospects through initial contact strategy, development and delivery of sales presentations and proposals, negotiation, and contract execution
- Coordinating with internal teams and resources to develop customized programs for prospects and bring best ideas to market (e.g., Media, Partnership Development, Partner Management, Partner Activation, Hospitality, Licensing, Social Responsibility, Marketing, Team Marketing & Business Operations, PR, Affiliate Leagues)
- Identifying sales prospects and key company contacts for potential sponsorship across our portfolio of leagues
- Conducting field research across key emerging industries, categories, international companies, and executives for relevancy and points of entry to identify new content technologies and business opportunities
- Establishing and managing relationships with key external contacts (e.g., corporate decisionmakers at prospective companies and influencers in the sports marketing and agency worlds)
Required Education & Professional Experience
- Enrolled in an undergraduate program and entering Senior year in the academic year following the internship
- These roles are open to all but typically best suited for individuals in the following majors: Business Management, Communications, Digital Media, Fashion Merchandising, Film/Media Studies, Graphic Design, or Photography
Preferred Skills & Knowledge Attributes
- Proven project management experience
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Eagerness to learn and willingness to work hard
- General knowledge of sponsorships, sports business, and/or industry knowledge
- Innate curiosity about the evolving media landscape and consumers’ consumption of said content
- Ability to independently forge relationships internally to advance projects
- Facility and familiarity with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Knowledge of new and emerging platforms and social networks being used by their peers
- Considerable experience and understanding of capturing content, implementing content strategy, and communicating with niche audiences
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop preferred
- Basic Photography and photo-related software experience
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Good listener, phenomenal communicator, and hard worker
Salary Range
$26/hr
Job Posting Title
Summer Intern
We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.
The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
About The NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.
