Basketball Analyst

New Orleans Pelicans; Metairie (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K with employer contributions

Paid parental leave

PTO and paid holidays

Wellness program

Job summary

The New Orleans Pelicans are seeking a Basketball Analyst to support the Basketball Operations department. You will translate ambiguous questions into research designs, develop models, and provide analytical support across coaching, scouting, and player development.

Responsibilities include building end-to-end models, creating dashboards, delivering in-season reports, and communicating findings to staff. A quantitative degree and programming skills are required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years applying statistics and ML to large datasets.
• Proficiency in R or Python and SQL.
• Ability to communicate technical results to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build, validate, deploy, and monitor models for players, teams, lineups, and tactics.
• Work with large datasets including play-by-play and tracking data.
• Provide in-season analytics for coaching and front office.
• Develop dashboards and tools for basketball staff.
• Communicate findings clearly and document limitations.

Skills

R or Python

SQL

Git

NBA rules

Education

Bachelor's degree in Statistics/Data Science/CS

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

SQL databases

Dashboards

Job description

Reports To:

Reports To: Director, Basketball Analytics Direct Reports: None FLSA Status: Full-time salaried, Exempt Work Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Our Mission and Your Impact The New Orleans Saints and Pelicans proudly represent both the NFL and NBA, using our platform to uplift the Gulf Coast and create lasting community impact. Rooted in the vibrant spirit of New Orleans, we celebrate diversity, embrace culture, and unite people through the power of sports. Guided by our core values—community, teamwork, celebrating individuality, people first, integrity, and excellence,we foster an inclusive culture and seek people who share these values to help strengthen the bond between our teams and the city we call home.

Position Summary

The Basketball Analyst will work within the Pelicans Basketball Operations department, reporting to the Director, Basketball Analytics, and is responsible for research, model development, and analytical support for Coaching, Player Personnel / Scouting, Player Development, Health & Performance and Salary Cap Management.

What You’ll Be Doing

Own basketball research initiatives end to end, translating ambiguous questions from basketball staff into defined research designs, models, and clear recommendations.

• Build, validate, deploy, and monitor models that evaluate players, teams, lineups, tactics, and roster and strategy decisions, including feature development and ongoing performance review.
• Work across large and complex basketball datasets — optical tracking and spatiotemporal data, play-by-play and event data, lineup and personnel data, and scouting inputs — using statistical modeling, machine learning, and exploratory analysis.
• Support the Director, Basketball Analytics on projects spanning on-court strategy, player acquisition, injury monitoring, and player development.
• Deliver recurring in-season reporting for coaching and front office use.
• Work alongside front office, strategy, coaching, scouting, player development, G League, and health & performance staff to keep analysis connected to live basketball decisions.
• Communicate findings through clear written reports, visualizations, and presentations, applying basketball judgment to state limitations and practical next steps alongside results.
• Build internal tools, dashboards, and repeatable workflows that put analysis directly in the hands of basketball staff.
• Leverage proprietary data and internal context to produce insights that cannot be replicated externally, and evaluate new methods and data sources worth bringing in-house.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum What You’ll Bring

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, or equivalent field, or equivalent work experience.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience applying statistical modeling and machine learning to large, complex datasets. Experience gained through coursework or personal projects qualify.
• Proficiency in R or Python.
• Proficiency in SQL, including writing and optimizing queries against large relational databases.
• Demonstrated ability to build, validate, and maintain predictive models.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical results to non-technical audiences through writing, visualization, and presentation.
• Experience with Git or similar version control software.
• Strong knowledge of NBA rules, regulations, and standards.
• Willing and able to provide after-hours and weekend support.
• Ability to problem solve and learn new technologies quickly.
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively with a small team.
• Ability to multi-task efficiently to meet aggressive deadlines.

Preferred

Advanced degree in a quantitative field.

• Experience working with optical tracking or other spatiotemporal data.
• Experience working with play‑by‑play and event‑level sports data.
• Experience deploying and monitoring models in a production environment.
• Experience building dashboards or internal tools that put analysis in front of non‑technical users.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Prior experience in professional or collegiate basketball.

All Candidates Should Have

Commitment to community and a people‑first mindset

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
• Ability to celebrate individuality and value diverse perspectives
• High integrity and a proactive, solutions‑oriented "winning" mindset

What We Offer

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance options

• 401K with employer contributions
• Paid parental leave
• PTO and paid holidays
• Wellness Program

The New Orleans Pelicans are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for candidates and employees regardless of their membership in any protected classifications. The Pelicans will not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, and pregnancy), religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, and/or any other legally protected class under applicable federal, state, or local laws. This anti‑discrimination policy applies with respect to all employment decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, discipline, and discharge. The Pelicans are committed to equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act and state law. If you feel you need an accommodation for a disability, please inform us. Requests for accommodation will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. If you request an accommodation, it is essential that you participate fully in the interactive process.