Basketball Data Scientist

About the role

The Basketball Analytics team at Player 15 Group partners with Basketball Operations to turn data, research, and technology into actionable insights for the Phoenix Suns. As a Basketball Data Scientist you will translate complex basketball questions into rigorous analysis, models, tools, and decision‑ready recommendations that directly impact front‑office, coaching, scouting and player development.

Key responsibilities

• Own high‑impact basketball data science initiatives and deliver actionable insights.
• Translate ambiguous basketball problems into clear analytical plans, research designs, models and tools.
• Conduct research using statistical modeling, machine learning, and exploratory analysis on large, complex datasets (tracking, play‑by‑play, lineup, scouting).
• Build, validate and maintain models that evaluate players, teams, lineups, tactics and strategic decisions.
• Develop clean, reproducible code in Python or R for analysis, modeling, reporting and internal workflows.
• Create dashboards, visualizations and internal tools to move projects forward quickly.
• Partner with Engineering to productionalize high‑value model outputs and data products.
• Document methods, assumptions and limitations for reuse by the broader analytics team.

Required profile

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to turn vague questions into concrete analytical plans.
• Experience working with large, multi‑dimensional sports datasets and translating findings into basketball‑specific insights.
• Ability to communicate complex technical results clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative attitude for working with front‑office, coaching, scouting and player development groups.

Required skills

• Python
• R
• Statistical modeling
• Machine learning
• Data visualization
• Dashboard development