With Alcohol Abuse And Financial Woes In The Past, Vin Baker Is Training To Manage A Starbucks

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Former NBA big man Vin Baker is no stranger to collecting impressive accolades. After growing up in his hometown of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, he moved on to the University of Hartford, where he become one of New England’s all-time great collegiate basketball players. He was drafted at No. 8 overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, and signed a 10-year, $17.5-deal with the Bucks – with whom he was an All-Star in two years. He was traded to Seattle in 1997, where he signed a seven-year, $86-million deal. His 13-year NBA career included four NBA All-Star games, and even a two-year stint with the Boston Celtics.

But at the tail end of his career, he battled alcoholism, including a number of financial issues that ultimately ended up causing him lose to lose the entirety of $100 million in career earnings.

Baker, now 43, has been sober for almost four years, and resides in North Kingston, Rhode Island, newly married and with four children. He’s also trying his hand at a completely new career path — one as a Starbucks barista. Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz, the former Seattle SuperSonics owner, gave him this unique opportunity. Baker has even decided to undergo training for a manager position with a Starbucks franchise.

Courtesy of the Providence Journal’s Kevin McNamara:

“In this company there are opportunities for everyone. I have an excellent situation here at Starbucks and the people are wonderful,” Baker says.

As for his career with the Celtics, he recorded double-doubles in 21 of his first 35 games in 2004. But arguments with head coach Jim O’Brien caused the revelation of Baker’s issues with alcohol. Baker told the New York Daily News in 2013 that, by then, he was leading “a double life” as an NBA player and binge drinker.

The Celtics suspended him three times and ultimately terminated his contract, despite nearly $35 million remaining on the deal. The Players’ Union filed a grievance on Baker’s behalf, and the two sides eventually reached a financial settlement. Baker’s career was over in 2006 after short stops with the Knicks, Rockets and Clippers.

“When you make choices and decisions and think that it will never end, and then you get into spending and addiction and more spending, it’s a definite formula for losing,” he said. “If you don’t have perspective in your personal life and you don’t understand what this $1 million or $15 million means, it will go.”

Baker looks back on his life and is grateful and proud that he has been able to turn it around — especially given that his didn’t turn out how most stories like his ultimately end.

“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 fade-away 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.”

(Via Providence Journal)

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