Robby Sikka

Dr. Robby Sikka is in his first season as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Wellness and second with the Minnesota Timberwolves after serving as Vice President of Basketball Performance and Technology last season.

Dr. Sikka oversees the integration of medicine, technology, nutrition, player development, analytics, and strength and conditioning with the goal of improving basketball performance and player wellness. His innovative methods seek to help players improve performance, reduce injury risk, and optimize return to play strategies. He additionally leads the organization’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure the health and saftey of all players, families and staff.

In addition to his Timberwolves duties, Dr. Sikka is the founder and CEO of Sports Medicine Analytics Research Team (SMART), an organization that has assisted numerous NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL clubs with injury data, return to play planning, and player evaluation and development.

Prior to joining the Wolves, Dr. Sikka was regional medical director for Anesthesia Management Solutions, serving the Midwest/Southwest U.S. region. He previously served as the associate director of data analytics for Mayo Clinic Sports and lead clinical research scientist for Tria Orthopaedic Center. Sikka has published more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, many on return to play after injury, and his research has been presented at dozens of national and international sports analytics and sports medicine meetings.

Dr. Sikka attended the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate studies and USC Keck School of Medicine for medical school. After graduating with honors at both schools, Sikka completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Minnesota with a special interest in sports, physiology and technology. He was named a Rising Star in Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in anesthesiology, and was named to the 40 Under 40 list by Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal in 2017.

A native of Minnesota, Sikka resides in Orono with his wife, Simran, and their daughter Gia.