Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova Best of Risky Business: Building a Championship Team (with Daryl Morey)
Dec 20, 2025
Daryl Morey, President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, makes waves with his innovative approach to the NBA. He explores game theory's role in decision-making, including strategies like the two-for-one clock maneuver. Morey passionately defends the value of superstars, emphasizing their outsized impact on championships. He discusses balancing risky superstar acquisitions with salary constraints and the importance of analytics in the league. Plus, insights on emotional investment in games and the potential pitfalls of relying solely on statistics.
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Daryl's Poker Confession
- Daryl admits he doesn't win much at poker and blames playing with pros and poor chip etiquette.
- He copes by downplaying his results and joking about unfair competition at the table.
Two Shots Often Beat One
- Two shots (two-for-one) often beat one shot in basketball during most of the game because of possession dynamics.
- Game theory, clock manipulation, and counter-strategies can change that calculus in some situations.
Superstars Deliver Disproportionate Value
- Superstar players provide outsized wins because basketball amplifies individual impact via possession frequency and switching defenses.
- Investing in top players yields far higher marginal returns than spreading salary across many average players.