Life. On Purpose

Beyond the NBA: Joe Alexander on Self-Honesty, Failure, Growth, and Finding Purpose in the Space Between Dreams and Reality

Brandi Eilert Episode 68

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Joe Alexander is a professional basketball player and lifelong student of resilience.

Born in Taiwan and raised across Asia and the United States, Joe’s journey to the NBA was anything but typical. After years overseas, he returned to the U.S. to play high school basketball in Maryland and went on to star at West Virginia University, where his work ethic and explosive talent made him one of the top prospects in the country. In 2008, he was selected 8th overall in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

But Joe’s path wasn’t linear. Injuries, setbacks, and the unpredictable reality of professional sports forced him to confront what happens when the dream doesn’t unfold the way you planned. What followed was a decade of reinvention — playing professionally across Israel, Italy, Turkey, Korea, and beyond, discovering new cultures, and learning what true success really means.

Today, Joe speaks openly about growth, identity, and purpose beyond performance. His story is one of transformation — from chasing achievement to finding meaning — and of learning that the game doesn’t define you; the person you become through it does.

Find Joe at here

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