Speaker Profile

Michael James serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Data Strategy and Analytics for the NBA. He is responsible for the league’s centralized business strategy and analytics function, which is housed within the Global Strategy and Innovation team, and oversees the Business Intelligence, Global Data Strategy, Consumer Insights and Global Media Insights groups.

In the role, Michael serves a diverse set of stakeholders from across the league bringing together executive leadership, technical experts and embedded business analysts to forge a comprehensive data-driven approach to decision making at the NBA and to support the league’s consistent pursuit of innovation.

Prior to becoming Head of Data Strategy and Analytics, James led the Strategy, Analytics and Operations team within the NBA’s Team Marketing and Business Operations department, working closely with the business strategy and analytics groups across all 30 NBA teams.

James joined the NBA in 2011 from the NFL, where he worked in Labor Finance with a primary focus on the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He earned a degree in Economics from Harvard College with a degree in Economics. He lives in Cedar Grove, New Jersey with his wife and three girls.