Best known for hatching the formula behind every player's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) -- which attempts to quantify player performance through the use of an all-in-one rating -- Hollinger will begin work as a senior executive in the Grizzlies' basketball department next week.

"It's incredibly difficult to leave ESPN, but the chance to work for an NBA team and the Grizzlies' new ownership was an irresistible opportunity," Hollinger said Thursday.

Hollinger was recruited to the Grizzlies by new controlling owner Robert Pera and CEO/managing partner Jason Levien, who have made upgrading Memphis' analytics department one of their front-office priorities.

The Grizzlies on Thursday declined comment.

Hollinger, 41, founded the website "Alleyoop" in 1996 to launch his online career as a basketball sabermetrician and authored a series of books originally known as the "Pro Basketball Prospectus" and later titled "Pro Basketball Forecast."

He went on to work for The Oregonian newspaper's online site (OregonLive.com) and served as the NBA editor of Sports Illustrated's online site (SI.com) before joining ESPN.com in February 2005.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8745158/espn-columnist-john-hollinger-join-memphis-grizzlies-front-office

FoeDiddy wrote:Wow...that is great how someone can turn a hobby or passion for something into a career. Talk about Moving on Up.

+1

gunsnewing wrote:Seth Rosenthal ‏@seth_rosenthal
Hollinger conversation at P&T turned to Knicks. Just learned that New York's analytics guy is named Mike Smith. I know nothing about him.
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interesting Mike Smith

Hate to break protocol and not discuss the varied redundant topics, but does anyone know anything about this guy? Is this dude running some top secret matrix by which we hatch Lin, novak, JR smith and old dudes into a winning formula? Was his advanced theory the what convinced Dolan to go all in and get his Melo? (refrain please from HomerMatrician rants please) Does his HaterMatrician also keep him away from some type of players?

Is this the guy that also devises the formula for Woodsons beard? Have to admit, when Woodson speaks his mouth is like floating as a planet unto itself! One has to pay attention to it, and since some athletes have attention disorders, does his mouth framed in perfect blackness actually cause one to not turn away?

Does woodson get in his contract an endless supply of "just for Woodson" specially formulated for him? Compliments of Clyde of course!