Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo Labels Daryl Morey Most ‘Overrated GM’ in History After 76ers’ Exit

Now that Daryl Morey is no longer the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, their fans are not just breathing a sigh of relief, but also excited by what lies ahead.

To his credit, he had built a team that on paper was capable of fighting for and potentially winning an NBA championship. But what he did not count on was that two of the most important players on that core have an extensive injury history.

Paul George and Joel Embiid, when combined with Tyrese Maxey, make for an exciting group. But when the first two missed most of the games they were eligible for, the team looked like they were headed to the lottery.

This regular season, it was a lot better after Morey aced when he selected VJ Edgecombe. The rookie and Maxey managed to keep the team afloat until George returned from his suspension, and Embiid was healthy.

They managed to win the first round in seven games, but were embarrassingly bad in the second. That, to longtime sports analyst Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, that result was further proof of what he has felt about Morey all along.

Daryl Morey is the most overrated general manager basketball aficionado in the history of the NBA. Excuse my French, he doesn’t know his a** from his elbow.

Chris Russo said

Hearing this, the rest of his colleagues on First Take could not get a hold of themselves, as they were almost falling out of their chairs. But he had a point.

"Daryl Morey is the most overrated general manager in the history of the NBA. Excuse my French, he don't know his ass from his elbow" – Chris Russo pic.twitter.com/rjP1v4eSVO

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 13, 2026

Russo referenced the massive deals Daryl Morey gave out to older players, which evidently stopped him from filling out the roster with quality backups. It seems he is saying that nothing the former executive did made any sense.

Skip Bayless toes Chris Russo’s line when speaking about Daryl Morey

Chris Russo made a major point about how Daryl Morey would pay veteran stars top money, only to be disappointed. When this discussion reached Gil’s Arena, Skip Bayless said this:

He’s always been this overrated myth. The truth is, it’s mostly smoke and mirrors with him… He’s won nothing… He just lives on his reputation, which is empty.

Skip Bayless said on Gil’s Arena

The 74-year-old recalled how the league reacted when the statistician first arrived in the NBA. It was as if he knew better than the rest of the league.

Skip Bayless reacts to the Sixers firing Daryl Morey 👀

"He's always been this overrated myth. He's won nothing." pic.twitter.com/3IOBwKu95F

— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) May 13, 2026

Most of that data-driven approach was based on the Oakland A’s success using the ‘Moneyball’ approach when Billy Beane was the general manager.

But just as Beane’s approach has still not helped the A’s reach the deep end of the MLB playoffs, neither has Daryl Morey’s with either the Houston Rockets or the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bayless believes that this data-driven approach has been nothing but a smokescreen. The only thing that has come out of it is how the method has not won anything meaningful.

Daryl Morey tried to trade for several players unsuccessfully, amidst tensions with top stars

One of the reasons Daryl Morey got the boot was because of how his trading away Jared McCain undermined the team. Not only did he not get back impactful players, but sending a rising star did not sit well with the likes of Joel Embiid.

Among other players, the source said the Sixers made runs at, unsuccessfully: Naji Marshall of the Dallas Mavericks, Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brandon Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors, and Ryan Dunn of the Phoenix Suns. None of those players were moved.

Adam Aaronson wrote

The Sixers’ beat writer remarked in his article how Morey failed to convince the Oklahoma City Thunder to part with Aaron Wiggins in the McCain trade.

Then, to try to make up for it, he tried hard to get either of the targets mentioned. But neither of their respective teams budged. It seems the now jobless executive did not sell high enough, both on McCain’s trade and on himself.

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