Today we’d like to introduce you to Kam Capers.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story takes place in June of 2014. I was sitting around the house bored, trying to figure out what I was going to do for the summer. Just graduating high school. I knew I needed a job so I wouldn’t be stuck in the house. Applying to any and everywhere, I took a chance and called the Atlanta Hawks to see if they were hiring. They put me in contact with Zac and he told me just to be on the lookout for the application. I was so anxious to start working I called him damn near every day to see if anything had changed and seen what day the application would be up. I was applying to be an on-court attendant (ball boy) for the team. Fast forward about two months later as I walk leaving class, I just happened to look on the Hawks website and saw the link to apply. So, I darted home and completed the application and just waited to hear back.
Finally, about a month later, I received a call from Zac to come in for an interview the following week. So now, I have to wait another week to get a crack at this job. The next week rolls around and I’m nervous and excited to interview for the Atlanta Hawks. I mean what 18 years old wouldn’t want this job. So, it’s my turn to interview and I finally meet Zac and he says “Oh your Kam?! You’ve been blowing me up all summer. Nice to meet you!” So, we sit down and talk and he tells me what I would be doing if I get hired, which would be rebounding for players before the game and mopping the floor during the game when players fall or anything like that. So, we finish the interview and he tells me I’ll hear back from him in about a week. So, one week goes by and I don’t hear anything. Automatically, I assumed the worst that I didn’t get the job. Like, what 18 years old wouldn’t want that job to work in the NBA.
The following week, I’m in class and my phone rings and it’s the hawks. I accepted the job so I was thrilled and little did I know, my life would change for the better. I officially started with hawks on October 6th, 2014. I went into my first year with the mentality of I want more responsibility within the organization. So, I bust my ass every game whether it was getting there an hour early to set up to staying late and helping with laundry. I didn’t care. My first year, the Hawks won 62 games and made it to the eastern conference finals. Also, towards the end of the season, I was blessed to get a job working at Nike. Which gave me something to do while the team was on road trips and in the offseason. The following season, I was moved from the court to the locker room. Telling me that they were paying attention and watching me without saying anything. Becoming a locker room attendant was probably the best thing that happened to me, as I would get to interact with players such as LeBron, Kobe, KD, and Dirk just to name a few.
As a locker room attendant, I was responsible for getting players food before the game and after the game. But I didn’t care, I was just excited to around hear them talk basketball and see how they prepare for a game. Before going into my third year, I was promoted to being solely in charge of the visitor’s locker room. Taking on that meant setting up the entire locker room. I had to make sure they had shower towels, soap, lotion, deodorant, training room towels (Gatorade towels), and making sure all coolers are stocked with Gatorade and water. In the midst of my third season, I was told of an opening with the Atlanta Braves to be a clubhouse attendant (bat boy). I joined them towards the end of my third season with the Hawks. I officially joined the Braves on March 26th, 2017 and have not looked back since. To this day, I am still currently with The Atlanta Braves, The Atlanta Hawks and Nike.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely there were struggles along the way. The struggles started back in 2013 when my family was evicted from our house of 12 years. At the time of the eviction, I was a junior in high school and it was hard because I did not know where I was going to sleep, eat or bathe. Like, imagine coming home from school and all your stuff is on the front lawn of your house in front of the whole bus. I was homeless with my mom for about two weeks, staying with a friend of hers. Then eventually the friend kicked us out because she didn’t want us there anymore. So, about a week later, we moved the little stuff we had and moved in with my aunt. We ended up living my aunt for about a year and a half. However, during that time of living with my aunt, I was able to spend quality time with my grandmother. The time I spent with her was amazing and I had a good time being around her. Unfortunately, in January of 2014, my aunt’s house caught on fire while my grandmother was there and she didn’t survive the fire. She passed away from soot and smoke in her lungs. The loss of my grandmother was hard for me because I knew she would never see me graduate or see any more of my accomplishments in life. Before she passed, I made a promise I graduate high school and college and become successful. So, I still go off of that to this day. In July of 2014, we moved out of my aunt’s house to our own and I finally felt like I was somewhere I could call home. Even though I was living with a family, I felt like I was homeless because I couldn’t call someone else’s place my own. Now, in our new house, I can call it home and feel relieved.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Nike story. Tell us more about it.
So, for my jobs, each of them requires me to do a little bit of everything. Working for Nike, I sell shoes and apparel. Working there, I specialize in the basketball department because of my love for sneakers and the game of basketball. I tied the two together and learned about the history of Nike basketball sneakers and what makes them special. When customers come in and ask what’s so special about a certain shoe, I can tell them and have a smooth sale. Secondly, my job with the Atlanta Braves, I am a clubhouse attendant (bat boy) in the visitor’s clubhouse. As a clubhouse attendant, we get to pick what we want to do on game days. We pick from either being the inside guy who is responsible for doing laundry, filling coolers and keeping the clubhouse up to par while the game is going on. The other spots are being the bat boy in the dugout or down the foul line. If you work in the dugout you are responsible for setting up the dugout with gum, sunflower seeds, Gatorade, water and Gatorade towels. Also, you’re responsible for setting up game helmets and bats. Then, during the game, you’re responsible for grabbing bats if a player gets a hit or an out or even replacing bats if they break during a player at bat. If you sit down the line, then you’re responsible for setting up the bullpen. During the game, you’re responsible for fielding ground balls if they’re hit your way and also helping the opposing team’s outfielders warm up by playing catch at the bottom of every inning. Finally, my job with the Atlanta Hawks requires a lot of work. For the Hawks, I am the head attendant of the visitor’s locker room. That job requires me to set up the visiting team uniforms before the game and making they have shower towels, wash rags, Gatorade towels, soap, and lotion. Also, I’m in charge of food runs, which I when players want something to eat such as Chik-Fil-A, Taco Mac and Dantanas just to name a few.
During the game, I sit baseline and run to get shirts when players check in the game and also give out water, Gatorade towels and shooting shirts. After the game, my team and I are responsible for taking bags and equipment to the team bus or team truck to make them get out efficiently and swiftly. When the Hawks travel out of town, I am responsible for coming to the practice facility and making sure all the laundry is done, coolers are filled and equipment is put up while they’re gone. Hence, during the offseason, I help put all the new equipment we receive such as shirts, shorts, compression tights, and uniforms. I specialize in going the extra mile to make sure players, coaches, training staff and etc have everything they need while they are here for a game and just building relationships and networking with others not being afraid to put my name out there.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In 5-10 years, I see myself working as an equipment manager in the NBA whether it be with the Hawks or any other team. The equipment position is a unique position because not everybody really knows the work we put in behind the scenes. The position is filled with numerous jobs as far as setting up the teams traveling schedule for the season with hotel and flight accommodations and also making sure the team bus is there for when they travel to road games or practice when on the road. Also responsible for washing uniforms, practice gear and taking care of the entire organization year round. That is where I see myself in about 5-10 years and also just having a good time and loving what I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: kamcapers
Image Credit:
Getty Images, KB Clark, Scott Cunningham, Jasear Thompson
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
