You know, every year around this time, I get this familiar knot in my stomach. It's NBA roster cut season—that brutal period when dreams get trimmed from 20 players down to the final 15. I've been through this grind myself as a former development coach, and let me tell you, nothing prepares you for those difficult conversations. But here's what I've learned: getting cut doesn't have to mean the end. In fact, it might just be the beginning of securing your real basketball career.
So what exactly happens during NBA roster cuts?
Picture this: training camp opens with 20 hungry players, but by late October, that number must shrink to 15 for the regular season. That means at least five guys—many with guaranteed contracts—will be looking for work elsewhere. The math is brutal: with 30 NBA teams, roughly 150 players get cut annually. But here's where that quote from my Filipino colleague resonates: "He asked me what he could give to the team. I said, as long as it comes from the heart, whatever you give to the team, as long as you're willing." That mindset transforms this from a numbers game to a survival strategy.
How do you mentally prepare for cut day?
I remember sitting with a young prospect who was clearly on the bubble. He kept asking about specific drills, specific stats—the measurable stuff. But the reality? Coaches notice everything. That conversation I referenced earlier captures it perfectly. When my colleague said "basta galing sa puso" (as long as it comes from the heart), he was talking about the intangibles that stats sheets miss. Are you the first in the gym and last to leave? Do you cheer from the bench like it's Game 7? These moments determine how to make an NBA roster cut work in your favor, even when the news is tough.
What practical steps should you take during preseason?
During my time with a Western Conference team, we tracked everything—not just points and rebounds, but how players interacted during timeouts, whether they remembered plays after film sessions, even how they treated staff. One player who ultimately got cut actually had decent numbers, but his attitude screamed "transactional." Contrast that with another guy who embraced that "basta willing ka" (as long as you're willing) mentality. He organized extra shooting sessions, mentored rookies, and despite being on a non-guaranteed contract, played like every practice was his last. Guess who caught on with another team within weeks?
What if you actually get cut?
Here's where most players panic. They see it as failure. But let me reframe this: learning how to make an NBA roster cut work for you is like understanding that basketball is a global business. That same player who embraced the "galing sa puso" approach? He took that philosophy overseas, dominated the Philippine Basketball Association, and now makes seven figures as an import. Sometimes getting cut from the NBA opens doors you never knew existed.
How do you turn a cut into a career opportunity?
I'll give it to you straight—the NBA isn't the only path. There's the G League (average salary: $35,000), overseas opportunities (anywhere from $50,000 to millions in China or Europe), or even coaching. The key is treating every opportunity like that heartfelt contribution my colleague described. I've seen players approach the G League with entitlement, and they flame out quickly. Meanwhile, the ones who bring that "whatever you give to the team, as long as you're willing" energy? They get noticed.
What's the biggest misconception about roster cuts?
Everyone thinks it's purely about talent. Wrong. I've seen MVPs from college basketball struggle while undrafted players thrive. The difference often comes down to that simple Filipino wisdom: "basta galing sa puso." Are you playing with heart? Are you willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means sitting on the bench or playing in another country? That willingness becomes your greatest asset in securing your basketball career beyond the initial disappointment.
How do successful players bounce back?
Let's talk numbers—about 60% of players who get cut find professional opportunities elsewhere within three months. The ones who succeed longest? They're the "basta willing" types. They take that heart-first approach to every drill, every film session, every interaction. They understand that learning how to make an NBA roster cut isn't about avoiding the inevitable, but about building resilience that serves them for decades.
At the end of the day, your response to getting cut defines your career more than the cut itself. That conversation I witnessed years ago stuck with me because it revealed basketball's universal truth: talent gets you looks, but heart builds legacies. Whether you're fighting for an NBA spot or rebuilding overseas, that willingness to give everything—"kahit ano naman ibigay mo sa team"—becomes the foundation for whatever comes next in your basketball journey.
