Clustering performances in the NBA according to players' anthropometric attributes and playing experience. Issue 22 (17th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Shaoliang; Lorenzo, Alberto; Gómez, Miguel-Angel; Mateus, Nuno; Gonçalves, Bruno; Sampaio, Jaime
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 36:Issue 22(2018)
• Page Start: 2511
• Page End: 2520
• Publication Date: 2018-11-17
• Subjects: Technical and physical performance -- anthropometric attributes -- playing experience; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1466493
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

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.