The Differences in the Performance Profiles Between Native and Foreign Players in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Liqing Zhang,Shaoliang Zhang,Bin Han,Xing Wang,Miguel-Ángel Gomez,Alberto Lorenzo Calvo

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.788498

Abstract

The aim of the study was to (i) use an clustering analysis method to classify and identify native and foreign basketball players into similar groups based on game-related statistics; (ii) use the Pearson’s Chi-square test to identify the key clusters that affect whether a team enters the playoffs; and (iii) use the classification tree analysis to stimulate the prediction of team ability and the construction of the team roster. The sample consisted of 422 foreign players and 1,775 native players across 9 seasons from 2011 to 2019. The clustering process allowed for the identification of nine native and six foreign player performance profiles. In addition, two clusters (p < 0.001, ES = 0.33; p < 0.001, ES = 0.28) of native players and one cluster (p < 0.05, ES = 0.16) of foreign players were identified that had a significant impact on team ability. These results provide alternative references for basketball staff concerning the process of evaluating native and foreign player performance in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Highlights

The process of player selection and team formation in basketball is regarded as a key factor to achieve successful game performances (Zhang et al, 2018)
Based on the above considerations, the aim of the present study was to (i) use an unsupervised clustering method to classify and identify native and foreign basketball players into similar groups based on game-related statistics in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA); (ii) identify the key player clusters that affect whether a team enters the playoffs; and (iii) use classification tree analysis to stimulate the prediction of team ability and the construction of the team roster
The aim of the present study was to (i) use an unsupervised clustering method to classify and identify native and foreign basketball players into similar groups based on game-related statistics; (ii) identify the key clusters that affect whether a team enters the playoffs; and (iii) use classification tree analysis to stimulate the prediction of team ability and the construction of the team roster

Summary

Introduction

The process of player selection and team formation in basketball is regarded as a key factor to achieve successful game performances (Zhang et al, 2018). Coaches and managers are required to consider their technical and tactical performances, physical and physiological characteristics, or mental and psychological factors (Arnason et al, 2004). There is a huge gap between the best and worst players in terms of technical and tactical performances in the Turkish Basketball League (Özmen, 2019). The shooting efficiency of foreign players was greater than native players, so the selection of core players may be the key to perform successfully in the league. Success can be mainly dependent on the combination of players with complementary skills who are capable of performing according to the demands of the playing positions (Ige and Kleiner, 1998). The majority of studies were based on traditional player positions (guards, forward, and centers) to evaluate technical and physical performances

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