Play the Game with Amar Shah
Play the Game with Amar Shah
Podcast Description
Play the Game with Emmy-winning producer and University of Florida Professor Amar Shah dives into the minds of athletes, entrepreneurs, and storytellers redefining sports, media, and culture. Real stories, real strategy—straight from the people changing the game.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as sports innovation, media strategy, and personal growth, with episodes featuring guests like Josiah Johnson discussing how memes have transformed media currency and Mason Gordon sharing the journey of creating a new sport with SlamBall. Other topics include building brands, overcoming challenges, and the importance of adaptability in creative industries.
Play the Game with Emmy-winning producer and University of Florida Professor Amar Shah dives into the minds of athletes, entrepreneurs, and storytellers redefining sports, media, and culture. Real stories, real strategy—straight from the people changing the game.
From making $11 an hour on the retail floor at Nike to signing Giannis Antetokounmpo and flying on the Nike jet, Brian Davidson’s story is all about betting on yourself and building something bigger. As the architect behind the most successful signature launch in Nike Basketball history and a championship-winning executive with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brian has seen the sports business from every angle.
Now, as founder of Sports Business Ventures, he’s helping athletes, teams, and brands rethink how they connect, mentor, and grow.
🎯 We talk about:
Getting into Nike through retail hustle and mentorship
Launching Giannis’s $100M signature line and shaping his brand
What it’s like working inside an NBA front office
Winning a title with the Bucks and knowing when to move on
Why he started Sports Business Ventures
Advice he’d give to students and young professionals chasing their dream
Whether you're trying to break into the industry or level up your impact, Brian’s story is a reminder that every big leap starts with a small opportunity.
Show Notes
00:06 – Cold Open: From $11/hour to flying private with Giannis
00:21 – Intro to Brian Davidson and his journey
01:24 – Getting into Nike through retail and persistence
02:21 – Signing Giannis and launching the most successful Nike signature shoe
03:00 – Joining the Milwaukee Bucks and winning an NBA title
03:07 – Launching Sports Business Ventures with his wife
03:38 – Key lessons: relationships, problem-solving, and pressure
04:26 – Rewind the Clock: Advice to his college self
04:59 – Closing thoughts: From retail to rings
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📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.
🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism
🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.
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