Artificial intelligence has been a hot topic in the last few years. During the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Sixers GM Daryl Morey talked about how large language models (LLM like ChatGPT) can help in the sports world. Daryl has always been a pioneer as an NBA executive. He was among the first to adopt the analytical aspect during his days as a GM of the Houston Rockets. During the interview, he talked about how the Philadelphia 76ers consult large language models.
Daryl Morey Opens Up About How Sixers Use of A.I.
During the conference, Morey talked a lot about using artificial intelligence and analytics. Asked to insert his Sixers decisions and whether he asks LLMs for their input, he said,
“Two answers there. We absolutely use models as a vote in any decision and how much of that decisions depends on the assumptions behind those models. So, if you have a highly successful model for picking draft picks, and we think that the game hasn’t changed, the rules, then the models get a lot of weight in those decisions.”
While Morey didn’t say that LLMs can substitute human output, he said that they do quite a good job.
“It turns out LLMs do fairly well at prediction. They are still not beating human superforecasters. They’re called like in human judgment projects, they do add signals over just scouts and things like that. We will treat them almost like one scout. Now, over time, if it’s shown that they have a better track record than scouts, we might weight the LLMs or use multiple LLMs as one or two votes.”
Can the Sixers Salvage This Season?
As of March 14, the Philadelphia 76ers are projected to have the sixth pick in the 2025 draft. Their pick is top six protected, and if it falls outside of that range, they have to send it to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Sixers have shut down Joel Embiid, and there are talks that Paul George is considering surgery. The only bright spot in their season is if they get a high draft pick. For a team that is trying to compete, getting a quality role player on a rookie deal will do wonders. The Sixers have one fewer loss than the Brooklyn Nets. They are tied in the season series, so the team with more losses will get a higher pick. If somehow the Sixers fall lower than the Nets, they might even pick at No.5. With the fifth-worst record in the league, they also have a 10% chance at the No.1 pick. Now that would be an early Christmas gift for Philly fans, getting Cooper Flagg after the disastrous season.
Analytics are Not Always Right
Morey is a big analytics guy. But even he acknowledged that sometimes, analytics can get things wrong. He talked about the times he had Kyle Lowry in Houston. He said,
“When I had Lowry back early in his career. What made him a great player was you know, his tenacity and everything, but also his personality. But we weren’t winning. We were winning about half our games and then Kyle went out, and we won six in a row. The narrative started forming we might be better without Lowry, which was so absurd in the data, that it wouldn’t even be something anyone would consider.”
So, even Daryl Morey admits you cannot always depend on artificial intelligence and analytics. Sometimes, you have to trust the eye test.
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