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Kobe Bryant meet Game Theory

Keep smiling, keep shining

Between school, work, updating this blog, and hard-core partying, I have had little time this semester to read for pleasure.

I just reached page 117 of 342 in Basketball on Paper by Dean Oliver, and came across an interesting passage last night that I wanted to discuss.

With a lot of hype over Kobe Bryant’s current 35 PPG Average and his miraculous 81 point game against the Raptors, I started wondering if such performances and inflated numbers actually help out his team in their effort to make the playoffs and have a successful season.

On pg. 115 of Basketball on Paper, Dean Oliver discusses how temmates compete amongst each other for playing time, shots, and ultimately, glory. But Oliver claims that such competition can severly hurt a team.

Quoting directly from Dean Oliver:

Allowing your star player to score 70 percent of your points may seem like an optimal theory because he is so much better than his teammates, but does it start infringing upon the fairness that the teammates need to feel is there? More relevantly, is that 70 percent actually better for the team?

A lot of game theory is discussed within the chapter, which questions whether teammates will stop playing as hard if they are being unfairly rewarded (do you even know who Kobe’s supporting cast is?). Interestingly enough, Dean Oliver points out Phil Jackson as a coach who has been able to motivate his former teams to perform even when there is one superstar that takes much of the credit for the team’s success. We will see if he is able to lead Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers into the post-season while making sure that his team remains to play together as one cohesive unit.

[tags]basketball, kobe bryant, phil jackson, game theory, dean oliver[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “Kobe Bryant meet Game Theory”

Interesting post I must say. You have found an interesting book as well. I tis funny how game theory is applicable in almost every situation.

Good luck with becoming a sports agent!

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