National Basketball Association Players Research Articles

The Impact of Knee and Ankle Injuries on National Basketball Association Player Performance Post-injury.

Athletes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) are subjected to high levels of mechanical stress increasing their risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to see how certain lower extremity injuries affect in-game performance in relation to each NBA athlete's demographics. The hypothesis was that NBA players' post-injury performance would differ depending on their demographics and the type of injury sustained. Descriptive epidemiology study of NBA injury list designations from the 2010/2011 season to the 2018/2019 season. About 255 lower leg injuries that met the inclusion criteria were selected from the injury lists spanning from the 2010/2011 season to the 2018/2019 season. These included ligamentous knee injuries, knee sprains, knee strains, knee hyperextensions, patellar injuries, ankle injuries, and Achilles injuries. The change in performance was determined by comparing mean game scores before and after injury with single-tailed, heteroscedastic t-testing and 95% confidence intervals for mean values. An overall statistically significant decrease in mean game score from 9.82 to 8.75 was seen in all included players (p = 0.01). Only athletes taller than the mean height (199.85 cm; p = 0.01) and heavier than the mean weight (101.63 kg;p = 0.02) showed a significant decline in performance. Ankle and knee injuries both resulted in a significant loss in game score (p = 0.04), with ankle injuries resulting in a greater average decline (-1.76 post-injury) than knee injuries (-1.34 post-injury). These findings suggest that treatment regimens should reflect the type of injury and demographics of the specific NBA player injured. Further research is warranted to determine if treatment may be more efficacious when streamlined based on player size and injury type.

Performance Differences in Elite National Basketball Association and Women's National Basketball Association Players Based Upon Whether the Dominant or Non-dominant Achilles Tendon Was Ruptured.

Background National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) players with Achilles tendon ruptures have previously been noted to have a significant decline in performance post-injury. There has been recent anecdotal evidence that elite players with dominant Achilles tendon ruptures may be able to return at a higher level of play post-rupture. Objective This study aimed to evaluate for any differences in performance in higher-performing NBA and WNBA players with dominant versus non-dominant Achilles tendon ruptures pre- and post-injury. Methods This study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. NBA and WNBA players with an Achilles tendon rupture from 1990 to 2020 were identified. Only elite players, indicated by an average player efficiency rating (PER) of >15 in either of the three seasons pre/post-injury, were included. The average PER, offensive rating, defensive rating, and usage percentage were compared in the three seasons pre- and post-injury. Results Eighteen players met the inclusion criteria, and nine each were classified as dominant and non-dominant Achilles tendon ruptures based on their primary shooting hand. There was no significant difference between the dominant and non-dominant rupture groups in any outcomes pre-injury, including age. The non-dominant cohort had a significant decline in PER (20.04 vs. 14.16; p < 0.001) and offensive rating (110.33 vs. 101.56; p = 0.004) post-injury. There was no significant difference observed post-injury in defensive rating or usage percentage. The dominant cohort had no significant difference in any outcomes post-injury, returning to the same level of play as pre-injury. Despite no difference existing between the groups at baseline, the dominant group performed significantly better post-rupture with regardto PER (19.56 vs. 14.16; p < 0.001) and offensive rating (114.00 vs. 101.56; p < 0.001) versus the non-dominant group. Conclusion Elite NBA and WNBA players with dominant Achilles tendon ruptures had no change in performance post-injury, returning to the same level of production as pre-injury. Post-rupture, they demonstrated notably superior outcomes versus the non-dominant group with regardto PER and offensive rating. The non-dominant rupture group experienced the same decline in PER and offensive rating post-injury observed in previous studies. The data indicatethat elite NBA and WNBA players with a dominant Achilles tendon rupture have a much more favorable recovery post-injury and are able to return to thesame level of performance.

A doubly self-exciting Poisson model for describing scoring levels in NBA basketball

Abstract In this article, Poisson time series models are considered to describe the number of field goals made by a basketball team or player at both the game (within-season) and the minute (within-game) level. The model is endowed with a doubly self-exciting structure, following the INGARCH(1,1) specification. To estimate the model at the within-game level, a divide-and-conquer procedure is carried out under a Bayesian framework. Then, we perform a clustering of the players in terms of their similarity according to the corresponding posterior distributions of key model parameters. The model is tested with National Basketball Association (NBA) teams and players from the 2018–2019 season.

The impact of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement on wage discrimination in the NBA

ABSTRACT This research re-evaluates wage discrimination in the National Basketball Association (NBA) following the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) being implemented. Using free agent data, weighted least square regression, and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, our results indicate that race does not significantly predict NBA players’ salaries, on average, after the 2017 CBA went into effect. Nevertheless, quantile regressions show discrimination remains present for star players. The results emphasize the potential positive effects that labour union agreements bring to professional sports labour markets.

A Perfect Storm: Black Feminism and Women’s National Basketball Association Black Athlete Activism

This article pays homage to Black Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players and their activist efforts. Such players are often-overlooked activists who are always “holdin it down” while simultaneously keeping activism at the forefront of their agenda. When the 2020 Women’s National Basketball Association season opened, the athletes in this league took the opportunity to highlight social injustice in the United States; not surprising given the history of Black feminism and athlete activism in this league. Using underwater waves as a metaphor, we examine how the intersectionality of Black feminism and Black athlete activism has largely gone unnoticed. Feminism and women’s rights movements have largely been associated with White women while Black activism has been associated with Black men. This manuscript aims to highlight the efforts of Black women and nonbinary athletes whose work has been instrumental in societal progression.

“Doing What’s Best for Me”: A Cultural Values Comparison of Social Media Responses to Kyrie Irving’s COVID-19 Vaccination Status

In October 2021, National Basketball Association player Kyrie Irving was banned from competing for the Brooklyn Nets because of his resistance to being vaccinated for COVID-19. Two months later, the Nets softened that stance and allowed Irving to participate in road games. This study examines two prongs of the social media response to Irving’s vaccination status. A total of 12,000 posts were collected from the U.S.-based Twitter (now known as X; 6,000) and the Chinese-based Weibo (6,000), covering the first week of coverage of Irving and the Nets’ announcement. Results showed that Hofstede’s cultural dimensions help explain the theme differences, with Twitter’s comments reflecting more individualistic notions and lower power distance than Weibo. Moreover, Twitter users focused more on opinion-based expression themes, while Weibo users avoided commenting on the COVID-19 policy. These findings contribute to the literature by identifying the role culture plays in people’s response to a social issue.

Research on the Team Operation and Management Strategy of the Mainstream Basketball Leagues in China and America - Based on the Comparison Between NBA and CBA

This research comparatively analysis gameplay and strategies in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The goal is to understand more about how the various professional basketball leagues work, how games are played, and how well the players perform. In contrast to the CBA's emphasis on disciplined offensive setups and team play, the NBA places a premium on athleticism and three-point shooting. The research in both leagues' sheds light on the significance of defensive strategies, team cohesiveness, and individual player duties. Based on best practices in the NBA, there are several potential enhancements to league administration and marketing and implications for CBA coaching and player development. The study's results highlight the dynamics of the worldwide basketball scene and give recommendations for developing professional basketball. The research also analyzes and contrasts NBA and CBA players' scoring, playmaking, and rebounding abilities, among other things. Based on the insights it gives into each league's distinctive traits and its players' performance, this study has significant significance for the growth and extension of professional basketball globally.

Strains/Sprains and Fractures Are the Most Common Hand and Wrist Injuries in National Basketball Association Athletes Who Return to Preinjury Player Efficiency and Equal or Greater True Shooting Percentage Within Two Years of Injury

To characterize the prevalence and incidence of in-game hand and wrist injuries in the National Basketball Association (NBA), to determine the factors associated with an equal or greater player efficiency rating (PER), and to determine the factors associated with an equal or greater true shooting percentage (TS%) 2 years after a hand and wrist injury using a large-scale national database of NBA players. Injury data from seasons 2015-2016 to 2020-2021, with exclusion of the 2019-2020 because of abbreviated play due to the coronavirus disease 2019, were extracted from a public online database, Pro Sports Transactions. Injury characteristics and NBA player demographic information were assessed using descriptive statistics. Poisson logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with equal or increased PER and TS% 2years after injury. There were 214 reported hand and wrist injuries, and of these injuries, 173 (81%) were classified as structural. The most common injury types were a strain or sprain (0.63 per 1,000 game exposures), followed by fractures (0.37 per 1,000 game exposures). Older age (relative risk [RR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-0.95) and more years played in the NBA were modestly associated with relative risk of having a decreased PER at 2 years after injury. Increased weight (RR 1.02; 95% CI 1-1.05) and increased body mass index (RR 1.14; 95% CI 1.01-1.29) were also modestly associated with having a decreased PER and TS%, respectively at 2 years after injury. Strains/sprains and fractures are the most common hand and wrist injuries sustained by NBA players. Regardless of dominant or nondominant hand and wrist injuries, NBA players are likely to return to baseline overall player efficiency based on PER and TS% within 2 years of injury. Our study characterizes hand and wrist injuries of NBA players and provides an understanding for these injuries on player performance at 2 years.

The "Bubble": What Can Be Learned from the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2019-20 Season Restart in Orlando during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. To safely complete the 2019-20 season, the NBA created a closed campus in Orlando, Florida, known as the NBA "Bubble." More than 5000 individuals lived, worked, and played basketball at a time of high local prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. Stringent protocols governed campus life to protect NBA and support personnel from contracting COVID-19. Participants quarantined before departure and upon arrival. Medical and social protocols required that participants remain on campus, test regularly, physically distance, mask, use hand hygiene, and more. Cleaning, disinfection, and air filtration was enhanced. Campus residents were screened daily and confirmed cases of COVID-19 were investigated. In the Bubble population, 148 043 COVID-19 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests were performed across approximately 5000 individuals; Orlando had a 4% to 15% test positivity rate in this timeframe. There were 44 COVID-19 cases diagnosed either among persons during arrival quarantine or in non-team personnel while working on campus after testing but before receipt of a positive result. No cases of COVID-19 were identified among NBA players or NBA team staff living in the Bubble once cleared from quarantine. Drivers of success included the requirement for players and team staff to reside and remain on campus, well-trained compliance monitors, unified communication, layers of protection between teams and the outside, activation of high-quality laboratory diagnostics, and available mental health services. An emphasis on data management, evidence-based decision-making, and the willingness to evolve protocols were instrumental to successful operations. These lessons hold broad applicability for future pandemic preparedness efforts.

Analyses of actions which cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the national basketball association players: YouTube-based video analyses

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common injuries in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and it is important to investigate the actual nature of the injury because it can impair a player’s performance after returning to the game. Although the moment of injury has been investigated, the details of the movements and circumstances leading to injury in basketball games are unknown. This study aimed to clarify the actions leading to ACL injuries and to investigate their characteristics, based on YouTube video analyses of the NBA players.MethodsPlayers with ACL injuries in the NBA were identified through web-based research over 10 seasons (2011/2012–2021/2022, through October 2021), with 29 recorded videos of ACL injuries in the NBA. Actions were categorized based on basketball-specific gestures, and determined whether the player was in contact with an opponent or not and, if so, the location of the contact was analyzed focusing on two time points: at the injury frame (IF) and one step before the injury frame (IF-1). The “injury leg” timing was counted for each of the first and second steps after ball possession.ResultsThe majority (68.2%) of ACL injury occurred during the 2 steps phase (only two steps can proceed after ball retention in basketball, so we defined them as two steps) in the offense action, and most notably during the first step (80.0%). 73.3% of players who were injured during the 2 steps phase got contact to an area other than the knee (Indirect contact) at the IF-1, with 81.8% of contact being located in the upper body contralateral to the respective knee injury. The probability of players with ACL injuries during the 2 steps at the IF-1 who got Indirect contact was statistically significantly greater than those who got no contact with other players (p = 0.042).ConclusionsWe argue that including pre-injury play and contact falls into the novelty category. Through YouTube-based video analyses, this study revealed that ACL injuries tend to be characterized by specific types of actions, the timing of contact, and the location of contact in NBA players.

Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in National Basketball Association Athletes and Their Effects on Player Performance.

Shoulder and elbow function is essential to basic basketball actions. Outside of anterior shoulder instability, injuries in these joints are not well characterized in National Basketball Association (NBA) players. To describe the epidemiology and associated risk factors of shoulder and elbow injuries in NBA players and identify factors that influence player performance upon return to play. Descriptive epidemiology study. Historical injury data from the 2015-2020 NBA seasons were retrieved from Pro Sports Transactions, a public online database. An injury was defined as a health-related concern resulting in an absence of ≥1 NBA games. Primary measures included pre- and postinjury player efficiency rating (PER) and true shooting percentage (TS%) with interquartile ranges (IQRs), stratified by extremity dominance. Multivariate logistic regression analyses with stepwise regression were performed to identify risk factors associated with return-to-play performance. A total of 192 shoulder and elbow injuries were sustained among 126 NBA athletes, with incidence rates of 1.11 per 1000 game exposures (GEs) and 0.30 per 1000 GEs, respectively. Sprain/strain and general soreness were the most common injury types in both the shoulder and the elbow. In the 2 years after injury, baseline PER was achieved in all groups, except for players with dominant shoulder injuries (baseline PER, 16 [IQR, 14-18] vs 2-year PER, 13 [IQR 11-16]; P = .012). Younger age was associated with quicker return to baseline PER (odds ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.67-0.88]). Shoulder and elbow injuries did not negatively influence TS% upon return to play (baseline TS%, 0.55% [IQR, 0.51%-0.58%] vs 1-year TS%, 0.55% [IQR, 0.52%-0.58%]; P = .13). Dominant shoulder injuries negatively influenced PER during the first 2 seasons upon return to play in NBA players. Therefore, expectations that players with this type of injury immediately achieve baseline statistical production should be tempered. Shooting accuracy appears to remain unaffected after shoulder or elbow injury.

Under the Influence: Marijuana, the Black Male Athlete, and Alternative Understandings of Humanity

This paper analyzes a series of advertisements from the antidrug campaign Above the Influence and interviews of former National Football League and National Basketball Association players by the website Bleacher Report regarding their marijuana use. Guided by Christina Sharpe’s theoretical concept of the “wake,” I argue that the Above the Influence adverts produce a trope I call Chronic Black male sporting hood. A trope that holds the Black body in a state of dehumanization. The second half of this paper utilizes Sharpe’s Black methodological tool of Black annotation/redaction. Through this Black methodological tool, the testimonial of the athletes, and the influences of Black musicians, I argue that these athletes provide insight into alternative ways of living and being human that arise from the anti-Black practices of sport with marijuana serving as their catalyst.

Biomechanics and situational patterns associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the National Basketball Association (NBA)

ObjectivesPerform a comprehensive video analysis of all anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes from 2006 to 2022 to determine the associated biomechanics, injury mechanism and...

Return to Sport and Performance After Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint Collateral Ligament Surgery in the National Basketball Association.

Introduction Basketball players are at increased risk of thumb collateral ligament injury (ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and radial collateral ligament (RCL)). Methods The National Basketball Association (NBA) players with thumb collateral ligament surgery were identified using publicly available data. Performance statistics, ligament injuries (UCL or RCL), return to sport (RTS) time, laterality, and injury dates were recorded. Cases were matched 1:1 with controls based on age (±1 year), body mass index (BMI), NBA experience (±1 year), and performance statistics prior to the index date. RTS was defined as playing in one NBA game postoperatively. Career longevity was evaluated. Summary statistics were calculated, and Student's t-tests (ɑ = 0.001) were performed. Results All 47 players identified with thumb collateral ligament surgeries returned to sport. Thirty-three players (age: 26.9 ± 3.0) had one year of postoperative NBA experience for performance analysis. Career length (case: 9.6 ± 4.1, control: 9.4 ± 4.3, p > 0.001) was not significantly different from controls (p > 0.001). The same season time to RTS (n = 20) was 7.1 ± 2.4 weeks. Off-season or season-ending surgery (n = 13) RTS time was 28.4 ± 18.7 weeks. Neither thumb collateral ligament (UCL, n = 7; RCL, n = 10; unknown, n = 16) had an identifiable difference between the groups when evaluating career length. Career length, games/season, and performance were not different for players who underwent surgery on their dominant thumb (63.6%, 21/33) compared to controls (p > 0.001). Conclusion RTS rate is high in NBA athletes undergoing thumb collateral ligament surgery. Players do not experience decreased performance or career length due to thumb collateral ligament surgery, regardless of a dominant or non-dominant thumb injury.

Poster 358: Minutes Per Game and Usage Rate Associated with Time Loss after Ankle Injury: A Characterization of Foot and Ankle Injuries and Associated Risk Factors in National Basketball Association Athletes

Objectives: Injuries to the foot and ankle are more common in National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball compared to other professional sports. The goal of this study is to report the incidence and associated risk factors of foot and ankle injuries in the NBA athletes. Methods: Foot and ankle injury data from the 2015-16 through 2020-21 NBA seasons was queried and verified using a publicly available database. The truncated 2019-20 season was omitted from this study due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was the incidence of foot and ankle injuries, reported per 1000 game exposures (GEs). Secondary analysis was performed to identify risk factors for ankle injuries through bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression of player demographics, performance statistics, injury characteristics, and previous lower extremity injuries. Additionally, factors influencing the length of absence were assessed via negative binomial regression. Results: There were 728 structural foot and ankle injuries (5.34 per 1000 GEs) sustained by NBA players over 5 NBA seasons, with sprain/strain as the most common injury type (4.27 per 1000 GEs) (Table 1). The majority of ankle injury events (55%) resulted in 2-10 game absences (Table 4). The likelihood of sustaining an ankle injury was significantly associated with a greater number of games played, previous upper leg injury, and more games missed due to injury (Table 2). Increased length of absence due to ankle injury was significantly associated with greater height, minutes per game, usage rate, points per game, total rebounds per game, and a prior history of foot, ankle, and knee injuries (Table 3). Conclusions: The incidence of foot and ankle injuries was 5.34 per 1000 GEs in professional basketball players. Games played and previous history of upper leg injuries were found to be risk factors for ankle injuries. Factors associated with physiologic burden such as minutes per game and usage rate were associated with an increased severity of injury. [Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text]

Characterization of Ankle Injuries and Associated Risk Factors in the National Basketball Association: Minutes Per Game and Usage Rate Associated With Time Loss.

Ankle injuries are more common in the National Basketball Association (NBA) compared with other professional sports. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence and associated risk factors of ankle injuries in NBA athletes. It was hypothesized that factors associated with an increased physiologic burden, such as minutes per game (MPG), usage rate, and associated lower extremity injury, would be associated with increased ankle injury risk and time loss. Descriptive epidemiology study. Ankle injury data from the 2015-2016 through 2020-2021 NBA seasons were evaluated. The truncated 2019-2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic was omitted. The primary outcome was the incidence of ankle injuries, reported per 1000 game-exposures (GEs). Secondary analysis was performed to identify risk factors for ankle injuries through bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression of player demographic characteristics, performance statistics, injury characteristics, and previous lower extremity injuries. Factors influencing the time loss after injury were assessed via a negative binomial regression analysis. A total of 554 ankle injuries (4.06 injuries per 1000 GEs) were sustained by NBA players over 5 NBA seasons, with sprain/strain the most common injury type (3.71 injuries per 1000 GEs). The majority of ankle injury events (55%) resulted in 2 to 10 game absences. The likelihood of sustaining an ankle injury was significantly associated with a greater number of games played (P = .029) and previous injury to the hip, hamstring, or quadriceps (P = .004). Increased length of absence due to ankle injury was associated with greater height (P = .019), MPG (P < .001), usage rate (P = .025), points per game (P = .011), and a prior history of foot (P = .003), ankle (P < .001), and knee injuries (P < .001). The incidence of ankle injuries was 4.06 per 1000 GEs in professional basketball players. Games played and prior history of hip, hamstring, or quadriceps injuries were found to be risk factors for ankle injuries. Factors associated with physiologic burden such as MPG and usage rate were associated with an increased time loss after injury.

Mechanisms of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Professional National Basketball Association Players: A Video Analysis.

A systematic search was performed of online databases for any anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries within the NBA. Video was obtained of injuries occurring during competition and downloaded for 2-dimensional video analysis. Thirty-five in-game videos were obtained for analysis. Of the reviewed cases, 19% were noncontact ACL injuries where there was no player-to-player contact from an opposing player. Three injury mechanism categories were found based on the events at the point of initial ground contact of the foot of the injured limb: single-leg casting (mean dorsiflexion angle 18.9° (14.4°); mean knee flexion angle 15.6° (7.8°); and mean trunk lateral flexion 18.2° (8.4°)); bilateral hop (mean dorsiflexion angle 18.2° (15.2°), mean knee flexion angle 21° (14.5°), mean trunk extension angle 6.9° (11.4°), and landing angle from the athlete's center of mass 47.9° (10.1°)); and single-leg landing after contact (mean abduction angle of the swing leg 105.4° (18.1°), mean knee flexion angle of the injured limb 34.2° (8.0°), and mean trunk ipsilateral flexion angle 22.2° (7.0°)).

An empirical link between motivation gain and NBA statistics: applying hierarchical linear modelling

BackgroundThis study tested whether the motivation gain in groups is the result of social compensation or the Köhler effect by examining scaled individual salaries of National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Both factors explain the positive effects of a group, unlike social loafing. However, differing causes in motivation gain relate to whether players are low or high performers and the Köhler effect or social compensation.MethodsTo test motivation gain, this study used 11-year NBA statistical data of 3247 players by applying hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) and HLM 7.0 was used for analysis. The players’ individual statistics and annual salaries were collected from the NBA and ESPN websites, respectively. Whereas previous studies have looked at motivation gain through track-and-field and swimming relay records, this study verified motivation gain through salary variations among NBA players and their affiliated teams.ResultsThe high performers, while selecting teams with larger performance gaps among team members, earned a higher salary than while selecting teams with lower performance gaps among team members. This study found that motivation gain existed in high performers, which can be interpreted as support for social compensation rather than the Köhler effect.ConclusionsWe used our result to elucidate the basis for play-by-play decisions made by individuals and team behaviour. Our results are applicable for the enhancement of coaching strategies, ultimately improving team morale and performance. It can be interpreted that the motivation gains of high performers in the NBA are driven by the Cost Component of the Team member Effort Expenditure Model (TEEM), rather than the Expectancy and Value Components.

Facial injuries in the National Basketball Association: 2013-14 through 2017-18

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the epidemiology, mechanisms, treatment, and disability for facial injuries in National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes. Methods This was a retrospective descriptive epidemiological chart review using NBA Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Responses to injuries reported in games, practices, and other activities were used for all data analysis, except for game incidence rates. Incidence rates were calculated by the game-related facial injury incidence per total athlete exposure (player-games). Results There were 440 facial injuries among 263 athletes during the 5 NBA seasons with an overall single-season risk of 12.6% and a game incidence of 2.4 per 1000 athlete-exposures (95% CI: 2.18–2.68). The majority of injuries were lacerations (n = 159, 36.1%), contusions (n = 99, 22.5%), or fractures (n = 67, 15.2%), with ocular (n = 163, 37.0%) being the most commonly injured location. Sixty (13.6%) injuries resulted in at least one NBA game missed (224 cumulative player-games) with ocular injuries resulting in the most cumulative games missed (n = 167, 74.6%). Nasal fractures (n = 39, 58.2%) were the most common fracture location followed by ocular fractures (n = 12, 17.9%) but were less likely to lead to games missed (median = 1, IRQ: 1–3) than ocular (median = 7, IQR: 2–10) fractures. Conclusions An average of one in eight NBA players sustained a facial injury each season with ocular injuries being the most common location. While most facial injuries are minor, serious injuries, especially ocular fractures, can result in games missed.

Teaching One‐Way ANOVA with engaging NBA data and R Shiny within a flexdashboard

AbstractThis paper provides introductory statistics instructors with the capacity to use engaging National Basketball Association (NBA) data within a web application to either strengthen students' understanding or introduce the concept of variance and one‐way analysis of variance. Using engaging data within the classroom provides context to data that students deem applicable to their lives. This paper not only provides a lesson plan for teaching these concepts but also provides a web application and the engaging NBA dataset if the instructor decides to use the app or the data in another context. The NBA data selected to focus on the debate “Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?”. By using context students are familiar with and interested in, we can get them interested in and further engaged in statistics.