EnCorps STEM Teachers Program - Interview | 10/17/2020 | Ashwin Thomas | 1

Three Decades of the NBA, in Four Charts

What has changed more… The skill, athleticism, & fitness of the players? Or the rules & tactics of the sport?

“zone” defense allowed

remember this uptick…

3-point line introduced Labor stoppage “freedom of movement” rules

Player eFG% Player eFG% Player eFG%

Larry Bird 51.4 Shaquille O’Neal 58.2 Steve Nash 55.6

Magic Johnson 53.3 Kobe Bryant (RIP) 48.2 LeBron James 54.1

Michael Jordan 50.9 Tim Duncan 50.7 Stephen Curry 58.1

 EnCorps STEM Teachers Program - Interview | 10/17/2020 | Ashwin Thomas | 2
Three Decades of the NBA, in Four Charts
“Moneyball” makes its way to basketball. Statistics, probability analysis, & game theory take hold in the tactics.

The uptick? A shorter 3-pt line, by 1’-9” at the top

“Hack-a-Shaq” restricted
References

• Goldsberry, K. P. (2019). Sprawlball: A visual tour of the new era of the NBA. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• https://www.basketball-reference.com/

• https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

• https://theathletic.com/1205425/2019/09/13/seth-partnow-analysis-the-lost-art-of-the-inartful-midrange/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_field_goal_percentage

• Google Images

EnCorps STEM Teachers Program - Interview | 10/17/2020 | Ashwin Thomas | 3