Analysis of publicly available data to explore the role of assist in the NBA

Abstract

In most team-based ball sports, the ability to pass the ball is an important aspect of a team's offense. While most teams understand that passing the ball well can create valuable offensive opportunities and win games, many traditional teams still view passing as an ambiguous art form. On the other hand, the advanced teams are using data to make data-driven decisions about their passing. Specifically, the NBA has collected a wealth of data over the past few decades, and teams are trying to transform this data into valuable insights that can help them edge their competition. Using publicly available data, I explored how the passing dynamics of teams compare across seasons and teams, and created diagrams to better communicate the assist relationships between teammates (see Appendix). This information has revealed interesting insights regarding individual players, teams, and the greater league. Through this research, I hope to help teams better understand the science of passing so they can make more informed basketball decisions.