Nike's Rachel Baker takes Grassroots Basketball to the Next Level

The Upside with Adam Finkelstein

Rachel Baker may be the most influential person in the world of grassroots basketball that the average college basketball fan has not heard of. She grew up the son of longtime college and professional coach Rod Baker, began interning with Nike shortly after her college graduation and ended up becoming a pioneer for women in the grassroots basketball space. Her current work ranges from working with families to coordinating EYBL events to contributing to Kevin Durant's product line. In this interview, she talks about her roots and path, obstacles she faced along the way, how her job has evolved, what she envisions for her future, and what her advice would be to the next generation of young women looking to break into this space.