Seth Stephens-Davidowitz — Who Makes the NBA? (EP.250)

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Jan 9, 2025

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a data scientist and bestselling author, uses data to challenge our understanding of the NBA. He delves into why many players share the name Chris and the impact of height on NBA opportunities. The conversation touches on the potential for a Moneyball moment in basketball and critiques the glamorization of the rags-to-riches narrative. Additionally, he discusses how tools like Code Interpreter revolutionized his writing process, allowing him to complete his latest book in just 30 days!

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INSIGHT

Height Advantage in the NBA

Each inch roughly doubles your chances of making the NBA.
If you're under six foot, you have less than a one-in-a-million chance.

ANECDOTE

Jokic Draft Story

The Denver Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokić in the second round, a rare success story.
The assistant GM admitted the pick was due to luck, not genius, as higher-ranked players were already drafted.

INSIGHT

Common Names in the NBA

Contrary to popular belief, black NBA players are more likely to have common names.
This suggests middle-class or wealthier backgrounds, challenging the rags-to-riches narrative.

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Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a data scientist and bestselling author, is known for his brilliant use of data to upend conventional wisdom - often with humorous, surprising, and occasionally shocking results. His latest book, Who Makes the NBA, uses data to interrogate some of basketball’s biggest questions, consistently yielding unexpected insights. Here’s the kicker - he wrote the entire book in just 30 days after discovering Code Interpreter.

Unsurprisingly for a former quant, I had a blast chatting to Seth. Topics discussed include why so many NBA players are called Chris, whether basketball is due for a Moneyball moment, and why so many of us misunderstand the rags-to-riches story.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.

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Show Notes:

Author, data scientist… comedian?
Using Code Interpreter to write a book in 30 days
The trait that makes it incredibly easy to become an NBA player
Why the best NBA player in history isn’t who you think it is
Is basketball due a Moneyball moment?
Why are so many NBA players named Chris?
What people get wrong about the rags-to-riches story
The hidden magic of data storytelling
Finding your audience
The danger of glamour
Keep it simple, stupid
Why the standard interview sucks
Doppelgangers & the power of A/B testing
The overdue revolution in health data
Why Google should be worried
Stated vs revealed preferences
The power of enormous data sets
Seth as World Emperor

Books Mentioned:

Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy