Citation
Zhang, Shaoliang and Lorenzo Calvo, Alberto and Gómez Ruano, Miguel Ángel and Mateus, Nuno and Gonçalves, Bruno and Sampaio, Jaime
(2018).
Clustering performances in the NBA according to players' anthropometric attributes and playing experience.
"Journal of Sports Sciences", v. 36
(n. 22);
pp. 2511-2520.
ISSN 0264-0414.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1466493.
Abstract
The aim of this study was: (i) to group basketball players into similar clusters based on a combination of anthropometric characteristics and playing experience; and (ii) explore the distribution of players (included starters and non-starters) from different levels of teams within the obtained clusters. The game-related statistics from 699 regular season balanced games were analyzed using a two-step cluster model and a discriminant analysis. The clustering process allowed identifying five different player profiles: Top height and weight (HW) with low experience, TopHW-LowE; Middle HW with middle experience, MiddleHW-MiddleE; Middle HW with top experience, MiddleHW-TopE; Low HW with low experience, LowHW-LowE; Low HW with middle experience, LowHW-MiddleE. Discriminant analysis showed that TopHW-LowE group was highlighted by two-point field goals made and missed, offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, and personal fouls; whereas the LowHW-LowE group made fewest passes and touches. The players from weaker teams were mostly distributed in LowHW-LowE group, whereas players from stronger teams were mainly grouped in LowHW-MiddleE group; and players that participated in the finals were allocated in the MiddleHW-MiddleE group. These results provide alternative references for basketball staff concerning the process of evaluating performance.