Long-Term Trends in Shooting Performance in the NBA: An Analysis of Two- and Three-Point Shooting across 40 Consecutive Seasons

Tomasz Zając, Kazimierz Mikołajec, Paweł Chmura, Marek Konefał, Michał Krzysztofik () and Piotr Makar
Additional contact information
Tomasz Zając: Human Performance Laboratory, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72A, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Kazimierz Mikołajec: Department of Basketball and Football, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72A, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Paweł Chmura: Department of Team Games, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, I.J., Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Marek Konefał: Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, I.J., Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Michał Krzysztofik: Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Piotr Makar: Faculty of Physical Education, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdańsk, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: This study aims to depict two-point and three-point shooting trends and explore their influence on game outcomes in the NBA across 40 consecutive seasons. Therefore, the following game-related statistics were considered: total points per game (PPG), games played (GP), field goals made (FGM), field goal attempts (FGA), field goal percentage (FG%), two-point field goals made (2PM), two-point field goal attempts (2PA), two-point field goal percentage (2P%), three-point field goals made (3PM), three-point field goal attempts (3PA), three-point field goal percentage (3P%), and a three-point field goal to two-point field goal ratio (3P/2P). The fixed-base indexes and inter-decade ANOVAs or Friedman tests were used as the main statistical tools. The number of 3PA significantly increased over time, while the number of 2PA decreased. A significant increase in 3P% was also observed, whereas 2P% remained relatively stable over the analyzed period. This study also revealed a higher number of ball possessions and more points scored per game, especially in the last decade of NBA competition.

Keywords: basketball; trend analysis; game outcomes; field goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1924/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1924/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1924-:d:1042674

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().