19-year-old Daniel Sung lands LA Clippers internship after a year of team laundry and floor-mopping
A 19-year-old college student secured a coveted NBA internship with the LA Clippers after volunteering to wash his basketball team’s gear and mop the court.
Facing a competitive job market for Gen Z, Vanderbilt student Daniel Sung chose to volunteer as manager of his college basketball team, performing tasks such as washing jerseys, socks, and mopping the court. Though his classmates ridiculed him, he used the experience to craft a unique application for the NBA’s 2025 Summer Internship program, which received over 19,000 submissions. At 19, he was accepted as a marketing intern for the LA Clippers, becoming one of the league’s youngest interns.
During the stint he posted daily updates on LinkedIn, gaining thousands of followers and multiple offers, including work with two startups and a marketing role at Red Bull in Nashville. Sung attributes his success to a clear career vision, relentless hustle, and building a personal brand online. He now advises other Gen Zers to align every experience with their ultimate goal, even if it means taking unglamorous, unpaid work.
Why it matters
Shows how unconventional, hands-on experience can break through fierce competition for entry-level roles.
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