Shooters, Scorers, and Facilitators: An NBA Stats Analysis

Play with my Tableau Story Here

When I was a kid, I briefly played basketball, but let’s just say I wasn’t the next Michael Jordan. My real connection to the sport came from my dad, who lives and breathes basketball. Every game was a chance for him to share his passion, and while I didn’t quite catch the bug, I saw an opportunity to connect with him through data analysis. By exploring NBA player stats, I hoped to bridge that gap and spark some interesting conversations.

Why THIS Project?

My motivation for this project stemmed from a desire to understand basketball better and connect with my dad. Choosing to analyze NBA stats seemed like a perfect route to do just that. I wanted to delve into how teams can identify undervalued players while maximizing their offensive efficiency. I figured it might impress my dad when I share my findings!

What Readers Will Gain

In this article, you’ll learn about how player statistics can help teams identify key contributors to offensive success. I’ll share my insights on the top and bottom players and unusual stats that might surprise you. Plus, I’ll explain the significance of my findings and why they matter in the world of basketball.

Key Takeaways

• Trae Young stands out with the highest points and assists in the league.

• Atlanta Hawks centers excel at shooting 3-pointers.

• Surprising stats can challenge our perceptions of popular players, like LeBron James.

Dataset Details

The data I analyzed came from Basketball Reference, a reliable source for basketball statistics. It contained 812 rows and 33 columns, offering a comprehensive look at player performance, including points, assists, and shooting percentages. This dataset was ideal for my project because it allowed a detailed analysis of player contributions and provided insights into team dynamics.

Analysis Process

My analysis began with cleaning the and analyzing the dataset. I then transformed the data for better visualization, using Tableau to create engaging graphics. I applied various statistical techniques to interpret trends and patterns. One surprise was discovering that some players I presumed were top-tier (like LeBron James) weren’t as impactful as I thought. It opened my eyes to how statistics can tell a different story than public perception.

Visuals and Insights

1. Bubble Chart: This visual illustrates the assists by position. Chris Paul appears prominently for assists but shows weaknesses in other areas, hinting at a possible decline in his performance. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic shines across the board, challenging the stereotype of centers focusing solely on rebounds. Trae Young leads in both points and assists but not in rebounds.

   

2. Stacked Chart: Here, Trae Young's scoring stands out, with a whopping 2,115 points, clearly underscoring his role as a key player.

   

3. Treemap: This showcases assists across players, again highlighting Trae Young’s exceptional contributions compared to others.

   

Table: This table reveals that Atlanta Hawks centers are the most efficient 3-point shooters with a 0.42 average, an impressive feat considering their typical role in defense.

Main Takeaways

From my analysis, it’s clear that Trae Young is a remarkable player who deserves recognition and fair compensation to prevent other teams from snatching him away. On the other hand, Chris Paul might need to be closely monitored, given the whispers about his declining performance. Nikola Jokic’s versatility also makes me wonder how he would perform in a point guard role, given his statistical prowess among the point guards.

Conclusion and Personal Reflections

I learned a lot from this project about how data can reshape our understanding of sports and players. One of the biggest challenges was filtering out noise in the data and focusing on what truly matters for teams. This experience has shifted my perspective on basketball and sparked a desire to dive deeper into sports analytics. I now look at games with a more analytical eye, and I’m excited to share this knowledge with my dad, hopefully igniting new conversations between us.

Call to Action

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my findings! Connect with me on LinkedIn or leave a comment below with your insights or questions. Let’s discuss how data is changing the game of basketball!