The Golden Key to Freedom

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About the Episode

Former NBA star, philanthropist and businessman David Robinson shares powerful insights from his journey transitioning from the basketball court to the boardroom, while highlighting the critical roles of leadership, hope and education.

Achieving Success. Transitioning Mindsets. Pursuing Education.

Known for his outstanding career with the San Antonio Spurs, retired NBA star and Hall of Famer David Robinson joins Dr. Greg Jones to share how his faith and hope guided him on the path to success, both in sports and business.

Off the court, David is renowned for his philanthropy and commitment to education, founding the Carver Academy and spearheading initiatives to support underserved communities. His leadership extends beyond basketball into business and community work, leaving a legacy as both an athlete and a humanitarian.

“I want to leave a lasting impression, some sweet fragrance behind in my life, where I can be an encouragement to the people around me.”

This episode covers…

• The important role faith and hope can play in achieving personal success.
• How education and access to resources can unlock the doors to freedom.
• Why changing your mindset can help overcome challenges in transitioning careers.

Faith and Hope: The Cornerstones of Success

David believes hope is not just a fleeting feeling—it’s a foundational belief that drives his life. He emphasizes how crucial maintaining hope has been for him, not only in sports but in a general sense throughout all aspects of life. 

“Hope is the most important thing we can have. Being an athlete, being a basketball player, if you don’t have hope, man, there’s no reason to play the game, right? You’ve got to believe you can win.”

David draws strength from his faith, which serves as his guiding light.

“My faith is my guidepost,” he said. “The Lord really shows me that there's a reason to get up, a reason to run.”

David was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. But despite all his wins on the court and the worldwide fame that came with it, material success means little without a true purpose. “You make a lot of money or you get famous and then you realize none of that is really worth anything,” he offered. 

“The Lord says, ‘What did you do with what I gave you?’ Oh, well, I made the Hall of Fame. I scored 20,000 points,” David explained, “And the Lord's going to say, ‘Okay, well, that's what I gave you. Now tell me how you multiplied it. What did you do with it?’” 

This focus on leaving a meaningful legacy is central to David's outlook on life. His faith instills in him the responsibility to serve others, including his family, his community and the students at the Carver Academy. "My hope is that I can leave an encouragement to the people around me," David said.

A Transition from Basketball to Boardroom

David shares that moving from a highly successful career in the NBA to the world of business was no small feat. The transition required a major shift in how he approached work and relationships.

“As an athlete, I wanted people to leave me alone. I didn't want anyone in my space. I wanted to be focused, go out and do my job, and I had to tune out all of the media, tune out all of the voices in my head,” he said.

He quickly learned that running a business is not a solo venture, and it required him to adopt a different mindset. “Switching from sports to business was very hard. I would go to meetings, pass my card around, and think, ‘Please don’t call me,’” he shared.

It took time for David to understand that, in business, building networks and relationships is essential for success. “You need people. You need to have relationships. You need to build networks,” he said.

Despite the challenges, David sees parallels between sports and business, particularly in his leadership and teamwork. “The great thing about sports is that you fail, you find 

out right away,” he reflected. “But in business, it might be six months before you learn if that was the wrong move.”

Though success may arrive a little bit slower, David highlights how the challenges in business and competitive sports are similar: building teams, having goals and leading with integrity. “There's so many things that you can translate from one side to the other, so it's been a fun transition for me.”

The Pathway to True Freedom: Education

One of David’s most enduring passions is education, which he sees as a vital tool for breaking barriers and creating opportunities. This belief led him to found the Carver Academy, a network of tuition-free schools aimed at providing underprivileged students with the education and resources they need to succeed.

“For me, education is what transfers everything,” he explained, referencing the words of George Washington Carver, who called education the golden key to unlock the door to freedom. David shared this commitment to education stems from his own family, who faced significant obstacles growing up in segregated communities. 

“I feel like my parents laid that foundation. They decided they weren’t going to stay in those communities, and they weren’t going to cut off our opportunities, and it paid off wildly for us,” David shared. “Because of that, I ended up getting my master’s degree. My sister got her PhD, and my brother became a pastor.”

David is determined to create similar opportunities now for others. “We’ve built 30 new schools in San Antonio,” he said. “Our goal is to send every single child to college – open that door for low income students in low income areas.”

David proudly shared that the success of the Carver Academy and its charter schools has been remarkable, with a “100% matriculation rate to college.” For nearly 80% of students, this feat will make them a first in their family to achieve.

That gift, David believes, is how he answers the Lord’s request to multiply the impact he can have. “My strength is inspiring people to move. And that's where I feel like I can be a multiplier so I can point people in the right direction.”