Sixers name Hinkie GM

PHILADELPHIA, PA. – The Philadelphia 76ers have named Sam Hinkie President of Basketball Operations and General Manager.

Hinkie arrives to Philadelphia after eight years with the Houston Rockets, most recently as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations since 2010, where he was responsible for the Rockets' considerable and ground-breaking analytic efforts, which included utilizing data to improve decision making in the NBA Draft, via free agency and trades, and in-game strategy. Additionally, Hinkie provided day-to-day management of basketball operations, managed the Rockets salary cap and scouted prospects in person across the collegiate and professional ranks.

"I am very pleased to announce that we have named Sam Hinkie as the 76ers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, which I believe to be an important step in building a high-performance organization," said Sixers Managing Owner Josh Harris. "Sam is a proven innovator and holds values that align with those of our ownership group. Sam’s experience, his judgment, and his analytical approach make us confident that he is the right leader to build a foundation for long-term success – with the goal of ultimately contending for a championship – here in Philadelphia."

“Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander hired me to bring a data-driven approach to their front office and general manager Daryl Morey allowed me to flourish. I am so fortunate and grateful for the opportunities they both afforded me,” said Hinkie. “I agreed to come lead the Sixers because the first, and to my mind, the most important building block is in place: A thoughtful ownership group committed to building a basketball operation that is data-driven, strategic and relentlessly innovative. The challenge ahead of us is real, but I am invigorated to build something lasting for Philadelphia.”

While with the Rockets, the team won more games (160) than in any three-year run in the history of the franchise, including a historic 22-game winning streak, the third longest winning streak in professional sports history.

Notably, Hinkie helped propel the Rockets to be considered the vanguard in basketball analytics, as profiled by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and in Michael Lewis's New York Times Sunday Magazine cover story on Shane Battier (The No-Stats All-Star). Hinkie presented and lectured at Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton and is an original contributor to the leading sports analytics conference held annually at MIT.

Hinkie serves on the Advisory Board of KIPP, an innovative charter school network focused on disadvantaged children in urban communities. Sam also serves on the National Advisory Board of Positive Coaching Alliance, a non-profit that encourages character-building youth sports experiences. Prior to joining the Rockets, Sam advised NFL teams on draft strategies and ways to use statistical analysis to improve decision making. Hinkie also held positions in private equity & venture capital after beginning his career as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company.

Hinkie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma and was named one of the top-60 undergraduate students in the nation by USA TODAY. He also holds an MBA from Stanford, graduating with highest honors as an Arjay Miller Scholar.