H.I.G.H. Ep. 35 | Malcolm Lemmons: Pro Baller in Japan to Sports Investor

Most people see the final score. Malcolm Lemmons sees the deal behind it. In Episode 35 of H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here), Trevis sits down with Malcolm Lemmons — former professional basketball player, 2x author, LinkedIn Top Voice in Sports Business, and founder of Vetted Sports, one of the most respected intelligence platforms at the intersection of sports, technology, and investing. We go all the way back — from his early love of the game, to playing pro ball in Japan and the G-League, to the moment he started looking beyond the court and asking bigger questions about the business of sports, money, and what athletes do after the game ends. Malcolm's story isn't just about reinvention — it's about paying attention while everyone else was still playing. He was building something long before most people thought to look up from the scoreboard. In this episode: -Growing up and developing the mindset of a competitor -Playing professional basketball in Japan and the G-League — and what life overseas teaches you about yourself -The shift from athlete to entrepreneur — when it clicked and why -Writing Lessons from the Game and Impact Beyond the Game — what inspired both books -How Vetted Sports was born and what gap it fills in the market -Building a media and research platform from scratch with no VC backing -Becoming a LinkedIn Top 1% voice and what consistency in content creation actually looks like -Where sports investment is headed — franchise valuations, sports tech, fan engagement, and the global capital pouring into the asset class -Advice for athletes who want to build something after the uniform comes off Connect with Malcolm: vettedsports.com LinkedIn: Malcolm Lemmons Subscribe so you never miss an episode of H.I.G.H. Like if Malcolm's transition story resonated with you. Drop a comment — what's the most underrated sports investment opportunity right now? H.I.G.H. (How I Got Here) traces the full life journey of today's top operators, founders, athletes, and industry builders — from the first spark of curiosity all the way to where they stand in 2026.