Basketball Operations Summer Intern, Strategy & Analytics

Basketball Operations Summer Intern - Strategy & Analytics

Phoenix Suns

Remote

Job Summary:

Player 15 Group includes several companies and many collaborative departments that support the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Footprint Center.

Would you like to win championships and create sustained success? Player 15 Group is looking for individuals who are committed to pursuing excellence and being a part of creating memorable experiences.

We are seeking a Basketball Operations Summer Intern to join The Phoenix Suns - Strategy & Analytics team. This role assists in the administrative and logistical aspects of managing the team's salary cap, supporting roster building efforts in pursuit of maintaining financial flexibility and maximizing team performance. This role requires a background in modeling and data science, while also having a foundational understanding of NBA salary cap mechanics, player contracts, and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) stipulations. This role will support the AGM in executing transactions involving trades, player acquisitions, and contract negotiations, contributing to the financial strategy in a support capacity.

What You Will Do:

• Support the structure and analysis of player contracts and trade operations
• Aggregate and analyze historical data sets of both contracts and statistics to aid in basketball operations and strategy
• Conduct preliminary economic and strategic analysis for player acquisitions and retention
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of NBA salary cap regulations and CBA changes, applying this knowledge to support strategic planning
• Collaborate with legal and financial departments to ensure all transactions comply with NBA rules and processes
• Provide logistical assistance during NBA key events such as drafts, trades, and free agency periods
• Contribute to the data-driven approach to financial planning within the Salary Cap Strategy team
• Research and analyze cap-related matters, including historical data, trends, and projections to support decision-making processes

What We Need from Our Summer Intern:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field
• Proficient in SQL
• Experience with Python/R
• Proficient knowledge of NBA salary cap logistics and CBA intricacies
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in financial modeling and data analysis using Microsoft Excel and other applications
• Experience in managing complex data sets in a sports or similar setting is a plus
• Excellent communication skills, capable of supporting the articulation of complex strategies to a diverse audience
• Strong organizational skills to manage tasks effectively in high-pressure situations

Desirable Traits Include

• High attention to detail and accuracy in financial forecasting and contract analysis
• Ability to adapt to changing financial landscapes and support modifications to strategies 
• Strong understanding of legal processes and logic-based systems

What You Can Expect:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by the Basketball Operations Summer Intern to optimally perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is a remote, seasonal position that will end on or by August 31st, 2025.
• Must be able to carry on a conversation both on the phone 
• Ability to Read, Write & Speak in English
• Perks:
  • Discounts at Fanatics Team Shop
  • Tickets available for Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury games
• Visit our Culture page to learn more about our culture and work environment

Player 15 Group is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

Please note this job description is not crafted to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact the People & Culture Recruiting team at recruiting@suns.com