The Miami Heat have hired Shane Battier as their director of basketball development and analytics, per an official press release from the team on Thursday.
Miami described Battier’s job in the release as using analytics to evaluate talent across the basketball world that will affect college players, free agents. and current members of the Heat’s 15-man roster.
“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 in the statement. “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.”
Battier was said to have other options to join other NBA front offices, but chose the Heat due to his familiarity with everyone within the organization, and the amount of joy he experienced in his playing career with the Heat.
The 38-year-old Battier, who played 13 seasons in the NBA, spent the last three seasons of his NBA career with the Heat, and helped the Heat win the NBA Finals in 2012 and 2013. His performance in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals will never be forgotten by Heat fans, as Battier knocked down 6 of his 8 three attempts in the game after struggling for much of the balance of the series.
He was one of just five players to score in the 95-88 clinching title win, as he was the leading scorer off the bench in the game, and the 3rd highest scoring player on the Heat that game behind LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen were the only other players in the game to score.
The hiring of Battier will also make Heat president Pat Riley content with stepping down one day in the very near future, as he told the Miami Herald in September that the Heat are one more guy in the front office away from making his decision to step away from the game easier.
“I am thrilled to be joining the front office of the Miami HEAT,” said Battier in the same statement. “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. My goal, as is the entire organizations, is to bring another championship back to Miami.”
During his career, Battier was highly respected by his teammates, and brought the ability to defend multiple positions while shooting the ball successfully wherever he went. He finished his career with averages of 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
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