From Gymnastics Floor to NBA Draft, Islam Building Future Beyond Competition
8/7/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
By Gerardo Tinajero
Hours before NBA commissioner Adam Silver stepped to the podium and millions of basketball fans tuned in to watch the 2026 NBA Draft, Jake Islam was not sitting in the crowd or watching from home.
Instead, the University of Michigan men's gymnast was walking the floor of Brooklyn's Barclays Center with an NBA credential around his neck, making final seating checks, solving last-minute logistical challenges and helping prepare one of professional basketball's biggest nights.
For a student-athlete who grew up dreaming of working in sports, the moment almost did not feel real.
"It was my, 'I'm here now' moment," Islam said. "Walking down on the draft floor with NBA players and celebrities, it finally hit me that I was actually working for the NBA."
That moment may have happened in New York City, but the journey began years earlier in Suffield, Conn., a town of nearly 16,000 people.
Growing up in a small town, Islam knew two things about himself early on: he loved gymnastics and he loved sports. As he began exploring colleges, he searched for a place where he would not have to choose between competing at the highest level and preparing for a career after athletics.
Michigan became the obvious choice.
"I wanted that big-school atmosphere," Islam said. "Michigan gave me the balance between academics and athletics that I was looking for, and I really connected with the team."
As a sport management major with a business minor, Islam quickly realized he wanted to stay in sports long after his gymnastics career ended. While he once imagined success only as an athlete, he became fascinated by the business behind the games, the partnerships, marketing, operations and strategy that allow professional sports to thrive.
That passion eventually led him to one of the most competitive internship opportunities in the industry.
After discovering the NBA internship program through LinkedIn, Islam spent weeks preparing. He refined his résumé, practiced mock interviews and worked closely with Michigan's Graham Family Athletics Career Center before advancing through multiple rounds of interviews.
When he arrived in New York, he discovered more than 1,000 students had applied.
Only 66 received offers.
"I think a lot of people struggle to believe they can stack up against the best," Islam said. "This experience taught me that I can compete, not only in gymnastics, but in a professional environment, too."
Receiving the call that he had earned the internship remains one of the most memorable moments of his career.
"My mom was the first person I called," Islam said. "She knew how hard I worked through the process. She's always proud of me, but she was a little extra proud that day."
Once the internship began, Islam quickly learned that working for one of the world's premier sports leagues looked much different than watching games from the stands.
As a member of the NBA's Partner Services team, he helped coordinate experiences for corporate partners, collaborated with multiple departments and learned how much preparation goes into every major event.
The NBA Draft became the perfect example.
Long before the first selection was announced, Islam and his team walked section by section through Barclays Center, checking every reserved seat for NBA partners. When they discovered several premium seats had obstructed views due to the television production setup, multiple departments worked together to relocate guests before fans ever entered the arena.
Later that evening, Islam escorted Adidas executives to the commissioner's green room, where they met commissioner Silver and other league partners between draft selections. Once his responsibilities were complete, he watched the remainder of the draft unfold from inside the arena.
"It showed me how many moving parts there really are," Islam said. "People see the games, but there are thousands of people behind the scenes making everything happen. There really is a role for almost anyone at the NBA."
One unexpected Michigan connection even found him in Brooklyn.
Only days after the news broke that Michigan men's basketball head coach Dusty May had accepted the Dallas Mavericks head coaching position, Islam spotted him backstage while escorting guests.
"I walked right by him," Islam said with a laugh. "It was funny because it was still so fresh that he was leaving Michigan."
While draft night became one of the highlights of the summer, Islam says the internship changed something much bigger than his résumé. It changed his confidence.
Surrounded by interns from schools across the country, including Harvard, UCLA and Cornell, he realized he belonged.
"This experience has really taught me that I can stack up against those students," he said. "Sometimes you doubt yourself, but I know now that I belong."
The internship also broadened his vision of what a career in sports could become. Conversations with professionals across the NBA introduced him to opportunities in partnership management, experiential marketing and business development, while also showing him that meaningful careers exist beyond teams and leagues.
"I've realized I don't have to work for just a league or a team," Islam said. "There are so many different paths that still allow you to work in sports."
Although the NBA provided an unforgettable summer, Islam believes much of his preparation happened long before arriving in New York.
Years of balancing Division I athletics with a demanding academic schedule taught him how to manage his time, communicate under pressure and remain accountable -- skills he now relies on every day.
"Being a student-athlete teaches you how to multitask, work under pressure and be accountable," Islam said. "These are all things employers value."
He also credits the GFACC, particularly associate director Julie Fielding, for helping him earn the opportunity. Fielding reviewed his résumé, conducted mock interviews and encouraged him throughout the hiring process.
"When I got the position, Julie was one of the first people I called," Islam said. "She really believes student-athletes can be successful beyond sports."
Now preparing for his senior season, Islam hopes to help Michigan pursue another Big Ten championship, compete for a national title and mentor younger teammates before beginning his full-time career in the sports industry.
However, looking back, the biggest lesson from the summer was not simply working at the NBA Draft. It was realizing that the qualities developed as a Michigan student-athlete extend far beyond competition.
"This experience has shown me that success isn't linear," Islam said. "Maybe my first job isn't exactly where I want to end up, but I know it's going to move me in the right direction."
Above all, Islam hopes his experience encourages other student-athletes to dream further beyond competing.
"I hope people realized we're more than just athletes, he said. "Our potential isn't limited to our sport. There are so many things we can accomplish."
