Gen Zer washed his college basketball team’s dirty clothes and mopped floors to prove his passion—now he’s one of the youngest interns ever at the NBA

(Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Sung)

• With over 4 million Gen Zers unemployed, the competition for entry-level roles has never been fiercer. One college student even spent a year washing his basketball team’s sweaty jerseys and socks to stand out and prove his passion for the industry. His peers mocked him at the time, but now he’s having the last laugh, having secured his dream internship with the NBA’s LA Clippers—at just 19 years old.

Gone are the days when showing a passion in a subject was enough to land an internship. With more than 4 million Gen Zers unemployed (and AI continuing to wipe out entry-level roles), even a degree is no longer enough to get your foot in door.