"It is never too early to prepare for the future.

That is what Pistons guard Ben Gordon and other players were doing when they attended the National Basketball Players Association's inaugural leadership training institute in Las Vegas in July. Players are educated on what it takes to be an executive in the NBA when their playing careers are over.

"Most guys wait too late to think about what they're going to do after the game is over," Gordon told CBSSports.com. "Some guys know what they want to do but they don't try to position themselves. They don't have a plan. I'm taking the first steps right now by doing things like this.""