Daryl Morey – Currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Morey is credited with pioneering the use of analytics in basketball during his time with the Houston Rockets. His ‘Moreyball’ philosophy is about optimizing player strategies based on statistical analysis.
Billy Beane – The Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Oakland Athletics, Beane’s use of sabermetrics transformed baseball. His approach, detailed in the book and movie “Moneyball”, shifted the focus from traditional scouting to a more stats-driven player evaluation.
Sue Bird – A WNBA legend and part of the Denver Nuggets’ front office, Bird has been a proponent of using data analytics in both her playing and administrative roles. She’s actively pushing for more advanced stats in women’s basketball.
Sam Hinkie – Previously the GM for the Philadelphia 76ers, Hinkie’s “Trust the Process” mantra was about using analytical methods to optimize the team’s performance, even if it meant short-term losses for long-term gains.
Sarah Bailey – A sports analytics researcher at ESPN’s Sports Analytics Team, Bailey dives deep into player stats to derive meaningful insights. Her work has significantly impacted how performances are assessed in multiple sports.
Luke Bornn – The Vice-President, Strategy and Analytics for the Sacramento Kings, Bornn specializes in spatial analytics, shedding light on player movement, game dynamics, and optimizing team strategy.
Dean Oliver – Often referred to as the ‘godfather’ of basketball analytics, Oliver wrote the groundbreaking book “Basketball on Paper”, which laid the foundation for many modern basketball analytics concepts. He has worked with various NBA teams to implement these principles.
Stephanie Kovalchik – A data scientist for Tennis Australia, Kovalchik is pioneering the application of analytics in tennis. She provides insights into player patterns, match strategies, and injury prevention.
Javier Fernandez – A leading figure in soccer analytics, Fernandez works with FC Barcelona, applying machine learning and data analysis to improve team performance, scout opponents, and refine strategies.
Brian Macdonald – Director of Hockey Analytics for the Florida Panthers, Macdonald is at the forefront of incorporating advanced stats into hockey. His work is helping shift old-school hockey beliefs towards a more data-driven approach.
