There has long been a link between basketball and banking.
A healthy percentage of teams in the National Basketball Association are owned or operated by financial services sector pros, from hedge fund honchos to private equity partners.
And numerous bankers, traders and advisers hail from college basketball programs all across the US.
Ahead of the tip-off for the 2015-2016 NBA season Tuesday, Business Insider reached out to top Wall Street banker Stephen M. Trauber to ask how his experience decades ago on the hardwood helped his transition to hard work on Wall Street.
"Playing competitive basketball taught me the importance of preparation, hard work and above all, teamwork," he told Business Insider.
Trauber played college hoops for Rice University in Texas in the 1980s. But once he got his degree in managerial studies and economics, he decamped for an MBA, and eventually, a gig at Credit Suisse First Boston. He is now vice chairman and global head of energy in Citigroup's corporate & investment banking group.
"Success on the basketball court, and in business, requires close collaboration with your teammates; you must trust one another and work together to reach your goals,” he said.
Trauber remained active coaching youths years after his days on the hardwood ended.
SEE ALSO: Here are the best basketball players on Wall Street
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