Play the Game with Amar Shah

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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Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
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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.

Order here:

🔗 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.

What started as a newsletter has become a powerhouse in sports media and venture. In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Petcash and Scott Garber, the co-founders of Profluence—a sports business hub that’s part media platform, part community, and part venture lab. Andrew, a former Division I basketball player, and Scott, a startup veteran and former D1 football player, break down how they built a brand from scratch by focusing on connection, value, and consistency.

🎯 We talk about:

• Growing up in sports and the grind of building early media brands
• The problem they saw in the sports business world—and how they solved it
• Building community at scale through content, relationships, and trust
• Early entrepreneurial lessons (from YouTube channels to walk-on football)
• Why giving away value is the best long game
• What it really takes to build something sustainable in sports media today

Whether you’re a founder, athlete, investor, or creator—this episode is full of real talk and tactical insight.

Show Notes

00:06 – Cold Open: Bringing together founders, executives, and investors
00:15 – Intro to Andrew and Scott: Their backgrounds and the origin of Profluence
01:15 – From athlete to builder: Early media projects and sports roots
01:48 – Scott’s journey from football to startups and why sports is a binding agent
03:02 – From newsletter to ecosystem: How Profluence scaled up
04:04 – Building something they wish they had: filling a market gap
04:40 – Why they’re building a movement, not just a platform
05:28 – Entrepreneurial DNA: Lessons from childhood and early risks
06:46 – Rewind the Clock: Advice to their younger selves
07:59 – Final thoughts: Build what's missing—and bring others with you

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 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.

Order here:

🔗 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.

From a sorority girl at UCLA with no plans to work in sports to one of the most trusted names in athlete partnerships and talent booking, Stacey Garcia’s story is all about bold moves and betting on yourself. As a four-time Emmy-winning producer and the founder of Stacey’s Talent Shop, Stacey has helped shape the careers of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment—including Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and many more.

🎯 We talk about:

• Turning a random Staples Center encounter into a dream job with Magic Johnson
• Breaking into sports without traditional experience
• Building trust and authenticity with athletes and brands
• Helping athletes control their own narratives (before it was trendy)
• Lessons from working with LeBron, ESPN, NFL Network, and Uninterrupted
• Why it's never too late to start building something for yourself

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about making a leap, Stacey’s journey is packed with lessons on ownership, perseverance, and staying real in a fast-moving media world.

Show Notes

00:06 – Cold Open: “A closed mouth never gets fed” – the bold moment that changed Stacey’s life
00:34 – Intro to the episode and Stacey’s background
01:11 – Falling into sports: From UCLA basketball games to a career pivot
01:53 – The hallway encounter with Magic Johnson that sparked her career
03:58 – Building a career behind the scenes: ESPN, Turner, CBS, NFL Network, Uninterrupted
04:53 – Why Stacey finally launched her own business
05:30 – The key to longevity: Being real, authentic, and mindful
05:59 – Athletes owning their stories: LeBron’s Uninterrupted, KD’s Boardroom, and more
06:54 – Final advice for entrepreneurs: Always get everything in writing

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 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.

Order here:

🔗 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.