Trends in NBA and Euroleague basketball: Analysis and comparison of statistical data from 2000 to 2017

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 7;14(10):e0223524. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223524. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

We analyse and compare NBA and Euroleague basketball through box-score statistics in the period from 2000 to 2017. Overall, the quantitative differences between the NBA and Euroleague have decreased and are still decreasing. Differences are even smaller after we adjust for game length and when playoff NBA basketball is considered instead of regular season basketball. The differences in factors that contribute to success are also very small-(Oliver's) four factors derived from box-score statistics explain most of the variability in team success even if the coefficients are determined for both competitions simultaneously instead of each competition separately. The largest difference is game pace-in the NBA there are more possessions per game. The number of blocks, the defensive rebounding rate and the number of free throws per foul committed are also higher in the NBA, while the number of fouls committed is lower. Most of the differences that persist can be reasonably explained by the contrasts between the better athleticism of NBA players and more emphasis on tactical aspects of basketball in the Euroleague.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Basketball / statistics & numerical data*
  • Basketball / trends
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Models, Statistical
  • United States

Grants and funding

Erik Štrumbelj was partially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS project grant L1-7542 and research core funding P5-0410). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.