NBA champion John Salley defends dreamers all across America: 'There's no excuses'

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Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including John Salley. A four-time NBA champion, he grew up in Brooklyn, NY, played college basketball at Georgia Tech while pursuing a degree in the school’s College of Management and became the first player in NBA history to win titles with three franchises: the Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990), the Chicago Bulls (1996) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2000).

My brothers Ron, Will and Jerry were all great athletes, so I had to be an athlete. I wanted to ride skateboards and be a rapper. My brother said, “There’s no seven-foot rappers. And he broke my skateboard …

John Salley, former NBA basketball player, smiling. — John Salley became the first player in the history of the NBA to win titles with three franchises. Since his playing career ended, he’s become a diversified entrepreneur with ventures in media production, plant-based wellness, agriculture and cryptocurrency. Milken Center

Ron went to Brooklyn Tech and then Muhlenberg College. Jerry went on to C.W. Post [later renamed LIU Post]. School was really pushed in the black community … but my father was not paying for college, so how I got into college was with my athletics. How you stay in college is with your intellect.

Studying was never a problem — I was always pushed to study, I was always pushed to be better, ten times times better than [my] counterparts. It was important to get an education and figure out how to figure out your place in this world.

John Salley dribbling the ball for the Detroit Pistons, challenged by Otis Thorpe of the Houston Rockets. — John Salley started his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons and won two NBA championships with the team. Getty Images

I graduated with a degree in industrial management and a minor in marketing, so I know how to market myself. [That’s so important] the way the world is moving now. [Since my basketball career ended], I’ve focused on owning my own streaming service and developing content.

The American dream, as I was told, was “Work hard. Your resources will show your hard work.” I met people from other countries that came to America — they see it as [the land of] opportunity. I’m a 58-year-old man and I see the opportunities as well. And I also see what people use as excuses.

Martin Lawrence, John Salley, and Will Smith at the premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die." — John Salley (middle) poses with Martin Lawrence (left) and Will Smith (right) at the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” in 2024. Salley played Fletcher in the film, as well as in the original “Bad Boys” in 1995. FilmMagic

The one thing about being in America — there’s no excuses [here]. Even though there’s trials and tribulations, there’s ways of fighting through. A black American has proved it. The American dream will not be a nightmare. It will be a dream.

The American Dream Video Project showcases real stories that illuminate pathways to opportunity. Featured at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of the Center’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. MCAAD is Washington, DC’s newest cultural institution, offering interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.