Young men who immediately become millionaires the moment they sign their NBA contracts often believe they already know everything there is to know about the big league. Nobody can blame them for feeling that way, either, having had access to the Association for so long, be it through the games and the various content that is produced about the league.
However, they soon discover the error of their ways the moment they join the team and realize that not everything is what it seems. They have more money than they could ever dream of, but with it come many dangers they must be wary of. A player who was grateful for the guidance of his veterans when he joined the NBA was former All-Star big man Carlos Boozer .
One lesson that Booz quickly learned was how to properly deal with groupies who stalk players in hotel lounges and lobbies.
A 6'9" stud from Duke, Boozer arrived in the NBA as the Cleveland Cavaliers ' second-round pick. After playing in his first pro game in Sacramento, he was surprised by the presence of a lot of women in the lobby of the hotel they were staying in. He was even more surprised when his phone rang, since he didn't know anyone in the area.
"I'm like, 'Hello?' 'Oh my God, I just saw you walk in the lobby and can I come up stairs?' I was like, 'Sorry, I am chilling with my friends but it's very flattering,'" Boozer shared .
However, the woman was like a shark that smelled blood in the water; she was relentless and tried again when Boozer returned to his room.
"Ring, ring, ring, 'I just saw you. Oh my God, can I come up?' I am like whoa! That was the first game, I haven't even played yet. That is just a mild example of how it goes. As soon as you get drafted and make an NBA roster, these joints be waiting for you," the native of Alaska revealed.
It's easy to see why professional athletes attract a lot of attention. Aside from the fame, there's always the fortune that some gold diggers want to get a piece of. Boozer shared that if a player does decide to bring one of these groupies up to his room, they must make sure to never fall asleep or risk getting a lot of things stolen.
"Make sure you don't fall asleep, they do take jewelry. I have heard some crazy horror stories, when you have an evening together and you fall asleep and your jewelry missing, your watch is missing, your Louis Vuitton is missing, and your bag is missing, and then they ask what happened?" Booz reckoned. "Whoever stayed over had some sticky hands, and they took your stuff. So make sure you stay awake. This is 101 groupie education right there."
Another thing Boozer mentioned is that players must never fail to bring their companion downstairs for the night and make sure someone or a camera sees it.
"I have heard other situations where you have one of these friendly visits and they go downstairs and they start claiming that stuff happened to them that didn't happen like rape or sexual abuse," Booz stated.
With most NBA players raking in a lot of money, a lot of people also tend to come out of the woodwork, seeking to get a slice. So it's best for them to keep their circle small and keep their heads on a swivel at all times.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
