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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insights 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.
question_answer 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.
insights 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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Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
In 'Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions', Seth Stephens-Davidowitz uses data analysis to address various questions about the NBA. The book explores topics such as which players are systematically undervalued in the draft, whether clutch shooters are born or made, the genetic component of basketball talent, and the impact of coaching on team performance. Stephens-Davidowitz also discusses how AI tools were used to create the book in a 30-day sprint, highlighting the potential of generative AI in creative processes. The book provides insights into the intersection of data science, basketball, and artificial intelligence, offering a new perspective on the game and its underlying factors.
Don't Trust Your Gut
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
In 'Don’t Trust Your Gut,' Seth Stephens-Davidowitz uses extensive datasets to uncover surprising and effective strategies for life’s biggest self-help puzzles. The book reveals how data from sources like dating profiles, tax records, and career trajectories contradict our instincts and offer practical, data-driven advice on topics such as finding a mate, raising children, and achieving career success. It emphasizes the importance of relying on hard facts and figures rather than gut instincts for making smarter decisions.
What works on Wall Street
The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time
James P. O'Shaughnessy
In 'What Works on Wall Street', James P. O'Shaughnessy provides an in-depth analysis of over 90 years of stock market data to identify the most effective investment strategies. The book examines various factors such as price-to-earnings ratios, price-to-sales, price-to-book value, dividend yields, and more. It challenges conventional wisdom and offers multifactor strategies that have historically generated the best returns. The book is designed to help investors of all levels, from conservative to aggressive, in selecting the best strategies for their investment objectives.
Everybody Lies
Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
In this book, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz argues that while people lie in various social interactions, they are surprisingly honest when searching the internet. He uses big data from Google searches and other online activities to uncover insights into human behavior, including aspects such as racism, sex lives, parental preferences, and the impact of violent media. The book highlights the power and limitations of big data, discussing its potential to reveal deep-seated biases and improve our understanding of human nature, while also warning about its ethical implications and potential for manipulation.
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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