A sad story with a silver lining
Vin Baker has become the latest poster boy for squandering a fortune earned in professional sports after it emerged that the former NBA star is training to manage a Starbucks coffee shop having blown through close to $100million.
A four-time All-Star, Baker averaged 15 points and seven rebounds across a 13-year NBA career that included stops in Milwaukee, Seattle and Boston, but a battle with alcoholism exacerbated some poor financial decisions that cost him his entire fortune.
Thankfully, Baker, now 43, who last stepped on an NBA court in 2006, has been sober for four years and puts much of his recovery down to the opportunity given to him by former Seattle Supersonics owner Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks.
When you learn lessons in life, no matter what level you’re at financially, the important part to realize is it could happen,” he said. “I was an alcoholic, I lost a fortune. I had a great talent and lost it. For the people on the outside looking in, they’re like 'Wow.’ For me, I’m 43 and I have four kids. I have to pick up the pieces. I’m a father. I’m a minister in my father’s church. I have to take the story and show that you can bounce back. If I use my notoriety in the right way, most people will appreciate that this guy is just trying to bounce back in his life - Baker speaking to the Providence Journal.
