How did David Robinson go from the Navy to the NBA and investing?

David Robinson. Naval Academy graduate and Navy civil engineering officer who became a 2-time NBA champion, league MVP and Hall of Famer, then built a school network and a real estate private-equity firm in San Antonio.

In the military

U.S. Naval Academy (mathematics degree), commissioned 1987; about 2 years active duty as a Civil Engineer Corps officer, rank Lieutenant (junior grade), resident officer-in-charge of construction at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; trained at CEC Officer School, Port Hueneme, California; then 4 years in the Naval Reserve. Received a height waiver to attend the Academy. Nickname ‘The Admiral’.

The transition

• Was the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs but first served his Navy active-duty obligation (about 2 years) at Kings Bay, Georgia, before joining the team in 1989.
• Carried 4 more years of Naval Reserve service while playing for the Spurs.
• Says the Naval Academy taught him to lead and that he arrived in San Antonio asking how to ‘make a difference given my circumstance’.
• Co-founded Carver Academy in San Antonio with his wife in 2001 to serve inner-city children.
• Moved into finance as co-founder of Admiral Capital Group, a real estate private-equity firm, with Daniel Bassichis; the firm drew a $50 million investment from USAA Real Estate (Sept. 2010) and a $15 million mandate from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (Feb. 2012).

What came next

• 2-time NBA champion (1999, 2003), 1995 NBA MVP, 1990 Rookie of the Year, 10-time All-Star, Naismith Hall of Fame (2009).
• Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.
• Carver Academy network grew to 14 schools with 5,500 students and 8,000 children on the waiting list, per Robinson at Talks at GS.
• Admiral Capital Group: real estate private equity; acquired office buildings and hotels in California, Nevada and Texas from 2009.

In Robinson’s own words

“I call the Naval Academy a leadership factory. You go there as a kid and you come out as a man.” (Talks at Goldman Sachs interview)

“They teach you how to lead, and so coming to the San Antonio Spurs, you’re one of those guys who is looking to make change.” (Talks at Goldman Sachs interview)

“My mindset was, ’How do I come in here and make a difference given my circumstance?’ And that all came from Navy.” (Talks at Goldman Sachs interview)

“I think what makes a person great is that the whole tide around them is rising.” (Talks at Goldman Sachs interview)

“The number-one lesson was the importance of teamwork.” (Robinson’s February 2011 article in U.S)

“I know the price that people pay to serve our country, and so it’s just a blessing to be able to come in and encourage the families here” (Visit to Joint Base San Antonio military)

Lessons for your own transition

• Your service obligation and your next career can overlap: Robinson honored his Navy commitment first and the opportunity was still there afterwards.
• Treat leadership training as a portable asset; Robinson walked into a struggling team asking how to make a difference, a habit he credits to the Navy.
• A second act can be a third and fourth: sport, then education, then investing, each built on the reputation and network of the one before.

More veterans who made the leap

See them all, and practical steps for leaving after a long career: How do I transition from the military to civilian work after 30 years?.