Basketball Beyond Paper - by Dean Oliver (Paperback)

About the Book

As a follow-up to Dean Oliver's Basketball on Paper, Basketball beyond Paper recounts the insights gained over Oliver's twenty years of experience using statistics to understand basketball.

Book Synopsis

A pioneer in the field of basketball analytics, Dean Oliver introduced a framework to understand basketball through the use of statistics in his book Basketball on Paper. In his follow-up, Basketball beyond Paper, Oliver lays out both the technical and personal aspects of his twenty-year experience in the NBA as he helped build the analytics that changed the game. He also looks at the people and technology that pushed those analytics forward.

Oliver tells stories of how the insights came about, whether studying other teams or witnessing events with players, coaches, and management of his own teams. He highlights how great LeBron James and Steph Curry have been but also how critical "middle-class" or "glue" players such as Shane Battier, Andre Iguodala, and JJ Redick were to their teams. Oliver illustrates the paths taken by Most Improved Player Award winners such as Lauri Markkanen, Julius Randle, and Brandon Ingram. Basketball beyond Paper tells the stories of how analytics have helped basketball players, coaches, and management--and changed the game.

Review Quotes

"Basketball Beyond Paper offers a clear expansion of the field while remaining grounded in high-level practical basketball experience."--Chad Goebert, Global Sports Business Journal

"A must-read for anyone interested in basketball analytics--and an enjoyable one, too. Oliver builds on his previous seminal work Basketball on Paper by blending in all the major advances in the league's analytics over the last two decades while weaving his own anecdotes from working in the league and showing readers how the sausage really gets made."--John Hollinger, NBA senior writer for The Athletic

"Changing the game, Dean Oliver gives insights as a veteran of basketball analytics. He explores the shift in mindset where instincts and old-school wisdom meet the numbers, redefining how players navigate today's analytical landscape."--Corey Gaines, former NBA player and coach

"Dean Oliver is one of the most well-rounded professionals in the world of sport analytics. He is a thought leader who excels at combining the numbers behind the game with the personal and group qualities that lead to high performance. Oliver's experience collaborating with staff members across disciplines in the industry is unmatched and he brings a perspective that can make any team, player, or organization stronger. His work has impacted countless athletes, and the lessons he shares translate to all forms of performance, no matter if you work between the lines or off the court."--Jeremy Rahn, mental performance coach for the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia Flyers

"Dean Oliver is the OG of analytics. He broke down the numbers to clarify and improve my game, from shooting and getting to the foul line to rebounding and contesting shots. He knows how to identify the meaningful numbers for players."--Kristaps Porziņģis, NBA All-Star player

"Dean Oliver's Basketball beyond Paper is a game-changer that masterfully blends statistical acumen with a deep love for the game, offering a sequel that pushes the boundaries of basketball analysis. It is a slam dunk for anyone seeking to understand the intricate dance of numbers and on-court action, elevating the art and science of basketball."--Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers

"In Basketball on Paper Dean Oliver laid out the groundwork for the coming analytics revolution in basketball as an outsider. Two decades later, he's taken what he learned working for multiple NBA organizations in the front office and on coaching staffs to offer a more complete perspective on how statistics can help us understand basketball--and their limitations--in this enjoyable read."--Kevin Pelton, NBA writer for ESPN

"In Basketball on Paper, Dean Oliver set a foundation for basketball analytics that so many of us have benefited from. I was thrilled to see that in Basketball beyond Paper, he builds on that foundation with the experience and insight of the last twenty years of his work in basketball."--Ben Falk, creator of Cleaning the Glass website

"It's rare to get such detailed insights from someone who has thoroughly studied and conceptualized how analytics can enhance the way we understand basketball, as well as physically sat in the rooms of basketball decision-makers at the highest level. A true pioneer, Dean Oliver continues to help evolve the game by sharing his one-of-a-kind experiences and takeaways."--Brittni Donaldson, assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks

"What I loved most about working with Dean Oliver is that he wasn't just some guy talking numbers that he sees on a computer screen. He actually got involved and wanted to find reasons for the numbers he saw. Oliver was heavily involved in practice, meetings, and film sessions so that he could identify the cause and effect of the numbers. He was able to speak actionable results to analytics as a result of being involved with what the staff taught and emphasized."--Jarell Christian, general manager and director of the Maine Celtics basketball and player development

About the Author

Dean Oliver is a pioneer in the field of basketball analytics, as well as a former collegiate player and scout. He has worked for four NBA teams, most recently the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach. Oliver headed up the development of ESPN's analytics group from 2011 to 2014 and is currently a sports data scientist for ESPN. He is the author of Basketball on Paper: Rules and Tools for Performance Analysis (Potomac, 2003).