The science of sports analytics has a firm grip in front offices across NBA franchises, and the latest hiring of “guru” Dean Oliver by the Washington Wizards further illustrates the new-age investment in technology. The Wizards announced new hires to head coach Scott Brooks' staff, including Mike Longabardi, Corey Gaines, Jarell Christian, and Oliver. In the organization's press release, the D.C. franchise called Oliver a “pioneer” in sports analytics.
Washington has made a few changes in the offseason under the leadership of newly minted general manager Tommy Sheppard. Sheppard, who was D.C.'s senior vice president and interim GM when Ernie Grunfeld left the team and wasn't fully installed as the top executive until July after the draft and free agency spree, has come to be infatuated with analytics and, per The Athletic, even emailed Oliver after reading a piece of his work in the past.
For Brooks, though, it's apparently the former Oklahoma City Thunder coach's first time truly interacting with a plugged-in source for analytics on a daily basis.
Via Fred Katz and Seth Partnow in The Athletic:
“This is my first time having somebody that really emphasizes (analytics) — and it’s his background, (his) passion that you wouldn’t believe — on my staff,” Brooks said. “We’ve had a department, but we’ve never had a guy that is gonna be so connected. … He’s gonna be involved. He’s gonna definitely have equity in how we play.”
Brooks is entering his fourth season with the franchise. Before joining the Wizards, Oliver was the vice president of data science for TruMedia Networks.
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