Marcus Morris Sr. isn’t holding back when it comes to his criticism of Daryl Morey’s approach to team building, particularly his embrace of artificial intelligence.
During an appearance on The Kevin O’Connor Show, the former Philadelphia 76ers forward voiced his distrust in Morey’s methods. He feels that while technology and data have their place in basketball, they shouldn’t replace the fundamental dynamics of the game.
Morris also emphasized the importance of team chemistry and questioned whether Morey truly understands the unique landscape of Philadelphia basketball.
“This is the first time I ever said this, ‘I don’t trust Daryl Morey.’ I just don’t trust him. I think he’s thinking too far ahead of the way basketball needs to be played. He’s trying to do a whole new team. He’s trying to bring guys in, flipping them in and out, in and out, in and out. Does he even understand the dynamic of being in Philadelphia?” Morris Sr. said on the podcast.
I asked Marcus Morris Sr. about Daryl Morey's comments on AI. Didn't see this rant coming. https://t.co/HPnAeW37Mi pic.twitter.com/akCrAErVz8
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 18, 2025
Morris further argued that Morey’s strategies seem overly complex and disconnected from traditional basketball principles. He pointed out that constructing a competitive team involves more than merely tweaking player rosters based on algorithmic suggestions.
The former forward raised concerns about the rapid turnover of players in and out of the Sixers’ lineup, suggesting that such an approach can undermine the essential cohesion that teams need to succeed. Even if Morey thinks AI is the solution for team building, this is certainly not the time for it.
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Nobody Is Liking Daryl Morey Using AI For Decision Making
Ever since Daryl Morey opened up about using AI for his decision-making, he’s been criticized left, right, and center. Before Morris Sr., Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors blasted the Phillies president for leveraging technology for crucial basketball decisions.
Green sarcastically highlighted Morey’s background in analytics rather than actual basketball experience. Green also cautioned that other general managers should be wary of following Morey’s example, as he has yet to establish a successful winning culture in Philadelphia.
“You see analytics being a huge part in the NBA. I think people went too far left with the analytics, and they’ve started to pull it back. Daryl Morey was at the forefront of the analytics push in the NBA. I think, in large part, due to Daryl Morey – he never played basketball – so you use analytics to help you process and validate your opinions on basketball,” Green said.
Green’s critique pointed out that while analytics play an essential role in the NBA, there has been a shift back from an overreliance on them. He noted that while Morey’s strategies have made headlines, they haven’t translated into success, especially for the Sixers.
