Sam Hinkie Innovated More Than Player Selection

1 of 6

Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Jerry Colangelo (not pictured) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

In a thirteen page resignation letter, Sam Hinkie detailed his approach to rebuilding the Philadelphia 76ers. More than a resignation letter, it is a blueprint for professional sports for non-athletes.

It is reflected in the cinema industry. It is reflected in the scholastic achievement. 40 years ago, being labeled a “geek” relegated a person to one of the most unpopular cliques in school. In fact “geek” originated from the German word “Geck” meaning “fool”. The word has been in active use for over 50 years, even being used in a recording of “rasslings” Classy Freddie Blassie “Pencil Necked Geek” in 1970s. In high school in the 70’s, you were either a jock or a geek. If you were a jock, you were athletic, and your scholastics centered around organized sports. If you were a geek, your scholastics centered around clubs – science clubs, computer clubs, chess clubs. But since the turn of the century, the entire genre of “Geek” has grown somewhat in meaning. In light of the technological advances, the term geek has evolved into the software/hardware chic power brokers of the futuristic economy.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Mirium Hong Kong’s Win Mak, Apple’s Steve Jobs, Microsoft’s Bill Gates are all associated with the term, and they are all very powerful and very wealthy.

But as the power shifts from those who are connected, who work with their hands, and who follow the old school notion of blood and guts, to those who invent, overthink, read, and calculate, one industry has resisted technological innovations and influence: professional sports. In the new popularity of super-hero movies originating from the comic book pages of teen age introvers, to the amassing of wealth as science and commerce are turned on their ear by the rapid innovations of “geeks”, the notion of being a geek no longer translates into a helpless introvert who is stuffed into a high school locker as a prank by high school football players. The age of the geek, and all of the computer technology and apps that go with it, have arrived.

More from Sixers News

It’s perhaps that social impact which polarized the NBA, analysts, and the fan base. You see, no group surrenders power willingly. In the past 20 years, “geeks” have quietly taken over as they have accumulated wealth from their innovative way of thinking, creating, and inventing. And now, in the past three years, “geeks” had invaded the very fabric of the NBA, the last bastion of the “jocks”. Sam Hinkie, in his ascension to the heights of the NBA as president and general manager of one of the top five basketball markets in the world, could now show the remainder of the NBA the flaws of their thinking, and their system. In his hiring, Sam Hinkie revolutionized the NBA way of thinking. It was no longer about signing the best talent in the NBA. In the world of Sam Hinkie, the team signed talent and then developed them to the best of their abilities.

He signed injured players and bet on restoring them to health. He signed international players, using their presence on other continents as a way of growing his available roster within the rules of the league. He signed undrafted players to lucrative incentived contracts, offering premium dollars to ensure the team friendly aspects if and when the player developed into a true NBA caliber talent, and he welcomed overpaid player contracts from other teams , as long as that team paid the price of such a service – NBA draft picks. You see, the man saw further ahead than most. He saw that the ultimate goal of winning championships mandated teams to forego winning games temporarily.

And the NBA didn’t like it. They didn’t like it one bit.

Next: Tethered