Rita McGrath
Columbia Business School Professor | Thinkers50 Top Strategy Thinker | Bestselling Author of Seeing Around Corners & The End of Competitive Advantage
Baron Davis
Two-Time NBA All-Star | Serial Entrepreneur & Investor | Founder of BIG | Sports, Business & Culture
Baron Davis dominated the NBA for 13 years as one of the league's most electrifying point guards. Since retirement, he has built an equally impressive second act — founding Business Inside the Game (BIG), investing early in Vitaminwater and Thrive Market, and producing award-winning documentaries. On stage, he delivers hard-won lessons on reinvention, entrepreneurship, and the business of culture.
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Baron Davis biography
Baron Davis grew up in South Central Los Angeles and turned that foundation into one of the most storied careers in NBA history. Selected third overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, he spent 13 seasons as one of the league’s most explosive point guards: a two-time All-Star, two-time league steals leader, and holder of the NBA’s all-time career playoff record for steals per game (2.28). He averaged 16.1 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds across stints with the Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks, and was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
What made Davis distinctive during his playing years was not just his on-court production but his relentless preparation for what came next. While still active in the league, he interned during off-seasons, studied private equity and business acquisitions, forged relationships with investors and founders, and eventually made the unconventional decision to represent himself as his own agent, a move that accelerated his business education faster than any MBA program could have. One of his earliest and most consequential bets was an equity stake in Vitaminwater, long before the brand became a household name. He later helped launch Thrive Market, the membership-based healthy grocery platform that now serves millions of members and is valued in the billions.
Building the Business Inside the Game
Since retiring in 2012, Davis has built a diversified portfolio and entrepreneurial ecosystem that reflects his belief that athletes, creators, and founders belong at the same table as traditional executives. He founded Business Inside the Game (BIG), a members-only platform and summit series connecting multi-hyphenates (athletes, investors, entrepreneurs, and executives) around thought leadership, deal flow, and community. BIG has convened NBA commissioners, major CEOs, and emerging founders at events tied to NBA All-Star Weekend and LA Tech Week, among others. His additional companies include Sports, Lifestyle in Culture (SLiC), The Black Santa Company, UWish, and No Label, his production outfit, under which he executive produced the Hulu Originals series “WTF, Baron Davis.” He has also produced acclaimed documentaries including “Crips and Bloods: Made in America,” “30 for 30: Sole Man,” and “The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce.”
As a sports speaker, Baron Davis delivers something rare: the credibility of a decorated professional athlete combined with the operational knowledge of a working entrepreneur and investor. His talks draw on two careers’ worth of lessons, covering high-pressure moments, reinventing your identity after the final whistle, building companies from scratch, and using your platform to drive equity in underrepresented communities. Audiences ranging from corporate leadership teams to startup conferences to financial institutions leave with a sharper understanding of how athletes think about risk, resilience, and reinvention, and how those same instincts apply in any competitive arena.
Baron Davis Speaking Videos
Baron Davis - Stories from My NBA Career
Fireside with Baron Davis - Into The Metaverse
Baron Davis Keynote Topics
Davis draws on two careers to reveal how the mindset, discipline, and competitive instincts forged in professional sports translate directly into entrepreneurial success. He shares his own unconventional path from the NBA to serial founder and investor, exploring how athletes learn to perform under pressure, absorb failure fast, and build trust within a team — all skills that drive performance in business. This is a keynote for leaders who want to compete differently.
In an era where influence, creativity, and capital are converging, the most valuable professionals are those who refuse to be defined by a single role. Davis unpacks the emerging model of the athlete-entrepreneur-creator, showing how to identify overlooked opportunities, build genuine community around a brand, and invest in the culture you want to shape — before the rest of the market catches up.
One of the most underutilized competitive advantages in any professional's life is the ability to prepare for reinvention while still operating at the peak of one career. Davis shares the strategies he used during his NBA years to build relationships, acquire business knowledge, and develop an investor mindset that was ready to deploy the moment his playing career ended. The result: a roadmap for anyone facing a major professional transition.
Davis has backed companies led by founders from communities that traditional venture capital has historically overlooked. In this talk, he makes the strategic and moral case for investing in diverse founders and underserved markets, examines where the most significant opportunities in sports, media, and technology are emerging, and challenges corporate audiences to think differently about where the next generation of great companies will come from.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Baron Davis
Why Baron Davis?
Booking Baron Davis for your event means putting one of the most compelling stories in American sports and business in front of your audience. Davis is not a former athlete who talks about sports — he is a working entrepreneur, active investor, and founder who has built companies, backed category-defining brands, and created platforms that matter in culture. His biography bridges two worlds that rarely intersect with this kind of credibility: the elite performance environment of a 13-year NBA career and the gritty, high-stakes reality of building businesses from scratch in some of the most competitive industries on the planet. He speaks with the authority of someone who has done both, at the highest level, and his stage presence carries the same energy and confidence that made him one of the most electrifying players of his generation. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to discuss how Baron Davis can be tailored to your event's audience and objectives.
What is Baron Davis known for in basketball?
Davis was one of the NBA's premier point guards of the 2000s, celebrated for his explosive athleticism, physical style of play, and ability to take over games in critical moments. He was selected third overall in the 1999 NBA Draft, earned two All-Star selections, twice led the league in steals, and holds the all-time NBA career playoff record for steals per game at 2.28. He played 13 seasons across five franchises — Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks — accumulating $147.3 million in career earnings. His 2007 run with the Golden State Warriors, which helped the eighth-seeded team upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, remains one of the iconic moments of that era.
What businesses has Baron Davis started?
Since retiring from the NBA in 2012, Davis has founded and operated multiple companies. Business Inside the Game (BIG) is his flagship — a members-only network and summit series connecting athletes, founders, investors, and executives across sports, media, and technology. His other ventures include Sports, Lifestyle in Culture (SLiC), The Black Santa Company (which promotes African American stories and figures), UWish, and No Label, his production company. He was also an early investor in Vitaminwater and helped launch Thrive Market. His investment portfolio spans companies including Hims, Cann Drinks, UNest, Kitu Super Coffee, Triller, and Sleeper, among others.
What topics does sports speaker Baron Davis cover in his keynotes?
Davis speaks on entrepreneurship and the athlete-to-founder transition, personal reinvention, building community and brand, investing in diverse and underrepresented founders, financial literacy, leadership under pressure, and the intersection of sports, technology, and culture. His keynotes are well-suited for corporate leadership conferences, financial services and investment events, entrepreneurship and startup summits, sports industry gatherings, and diversity and inclusion programs. Each engagement can be customized to your audience's priorities. Reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau to discuss format, topics, and speaking fees.
How to book Baron Davis as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Baron Davis as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Baron Davis's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Baron Davis or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Baron Davis speaking fee?
Baron Davis speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Baron Davis to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Baron Davis.
How can I contact Baron Davis?
We only work with Baron Davis on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Baron Davis and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Baron Davis speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Baron Davis for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Baron Davis for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Baron Davis is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Baron Davis for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
