dean oliver

Dean Oliver is the Director of Quantitative Analysis for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. His expertise is the use of data and analytics to provide insight on trades, free agency, draft analysis, opponent preparation, and team development.  He also serves as a college scout for the team.  He joined the NBA in 2004, working with the Supersonics during a 52 win season after predicted for last by most preseason forecasts.
 
Oliver’s book, Basketball on Paper, has been widely praised as the best book on statistical analysis in basketball, with endorsements from Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith and baseball analytics pioneer Bill James.  The book forms the basis for much of the statistical analysis done in basketball at the NBA, college, and international levels.
 
His work prior to joining the NBA involved managing environmental problems, including Superfund sites, expert witness testimony, risk analysis, insurance recovery, and financial planning.  He worked with both industrial clients and regulatory agencies to develop optimal cleanup strategies and identify target risk levels.
 
He is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Quantitative Analysis of Sports and the executive board of the Association of Professional Basketball Research.  He is also a member of the North American Association of Sports Economists.
 
Oliver’s wife, Marcia, is a leading cancer researcher. They have three boys who play basketball, as well as ski and play soccer.