Former Miami Heat player Shane Battier, who helped Miami win the NBA Championship in 2012 and 2013, has been named the Head of the Heat’s Analytics Department, the team announced on Thursday.
“My goal, as is the entire organization’s, is to bring another championship back to Miami,” Battier said. Battier played 13 seasons in the NBA and posted career numbers of 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 44% shooting.
Battier lives in South Florida and has been close with Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and CEO Nick Arison. Battier’s ties to Nick Arison go back to his playing days with Duke when Arison was the Blue Devils’ manager.
“I am thrilled to be joining the front office of the Miami Heat,” Battier said. “I look forward to working with the Arison family, learning from a Hall of Fame executive in Pat Riley, general manager Andy Elisburg and of course my old coach, Erik Spoelstra.”
“We believe Shane is an incredible example of our Heat program, not only for the present, but also for the future,” said Heat President Pat Riley.
“He embodies everything that we are looking for in our players and staff. We feel he will help us tremendously with his experience and knowledge of the game. Shane is an out-of-the-box thinker and will bring a fresh expertise that can help us evolve as a franchise.”
According to the Heat, Battier will be responsible for developing analytics to evaluate talent, including college players, free agents and members of the existing roster.