The former executive vice president of basketball operations for the Houston Rockets, Sam Hinkie, has been hired by the Philadelphia 76ers to be their new General Manager. The move signifies a change in the direction of the Philadelphia 76ers front office. Former coach Doug Collins had been outspoken about how he was not interested in the advanced statistics of basketball. New GM Sam Hinkie is known around the league for his prowess in advanced statistics. Hinkie is a yearly attendant to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics conference.
Hinkie has worked closely over the years with current Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Morey is widely considered as the founder of the NBA’s version of “Moneyball” and advanced statistics and analytics. Before Hinkie joined the Houston Rockets, he worked with providing NFL teams with advice and statistical analysis. He also worked in private equity and venture capital and worked closely with a global strategy-consulting firm.
It is obvious that with this move the Philadelphia 76ers are set on joining the NBA’s newest trend of statistical analysis. The 76ers have seen the success that teams like the Houston Rockets are having with this type of managerial strategy. The 76ers are in dire need of a change of direction, after the failure of the Andrew Bynum trade. It will be extremely interesting to see if the new management decides to give the former all-star another opportunity to play in Philadelphia. Also, speculation of a new coach in Philadelphia is very intriguing. Whoever the 76ers decide to be their new coach must be able to adapt to the new statistical analysis approach to the game. The new regime in Philadelphia will definitely be something the city has not seen before, but for sure, the 76ers will be in it to win it.
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