Ariana Andonian has rapidly ascended the ranks of NBA scouting.
She has previous experience with the Memphis Grizzlies under GM Zach Kleiman and the Houston Rockets under Daryl Morey, who currently serves as the president of basketball operations for the 76ers.
Morey sees great potential in the 31-year-old Andonian to eventually become a lead executive in the NBA. Fully engaged in the league geared towards talent development, Andonian was appointed general manager of the Blue Coats just a year after she became the Sixers’ vice president of player personnel.
Although Andonian didn’t foresee this career trajectory, her promotion came naturally following Jameer Nelson’s elevation to assistant general manager in May. She has had to invest significant effort to establish her career while maneuvering through a male-dominated field.
In 2017, she was the only female scout in the league, but now there are sufficient women in various front office roles to form a group chat. “We keep supporting one another,” Andonian remarked, expressing hope that their collective success will continue.
Andonian aims to further her learning and growth in her current role, and what better environment to do so than in basketball’s developmental league?
— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, [email protected].
