The underpinning factors of NBA game-play performance: a systematic review (2001–2020)

ABSTRACT

Objective

Recognizing the high stakes associated with winning and losing in the National Basketball Association (NBA), a deep understanding of the underlying mechanisms of NBA game-play performance would provide substantial benefit to all stakeholders involved with preparing NBA players and teams for competitive success. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this systematic review presents the first attempt to systematically amalgamate and appraise the scientific literature published in the XXI Century, following a constraints-led approach (CLA). In particular, two underpinning factors of NBA game-play performance were investigated: (1) NBA player constraints (internal variables) and (2) NBA contextual constraints (external variables).

Methods

Databases included PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science (WOS), ResearchGate, SPORTDiscus, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and the World Association of Basketball Coaches’ database (WABC). This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model and the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes (PICOS) guidelines.

Results

Ultimately, 43 articles met the inclusion criteria (n = 43). Promisingly, the vast majority of studies were published in recent years (>2016; n = 28; 65.1%). Topics related to ‘contextual constraints’ (n = 25; 58.1%) received more attention than topics related to ‘player constraints’ (n = 18; 41.9%). Even though the importance of longitudinal-interventional approaches to applied sports science is well-documented, descriptive-observational research emerged as the most popular method of choice (n = 27; 62.8%); interventional studies were absent; and near all researchers merely utilized secondary data sources (n = 37; 86.0%).

Conclusions

Taking into account the total body of evidence (2001–2020), NBA practitioners may use this systematic review as a baseline reference to enrich their current knowledge about the nature, demands, and dynamics of the modern-day NBA ecosystem. Finally, adoption of an ‘Applied Science Research Framework’ is encouraged, fostering clearly outlined project incentives; standardizing taxonomies; sequencing follow-up studies; embracing holistic and cross-disciplinary viewpoints; and integrating longitudinal-interventional projects to increase the reproducibility of their findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Sport performance analysis
• professional basketball
• ecological validity
• complex systems
• constraints-led approach
• dynamic correspondence

Acknowledgments

This research received no external funding. The results of the present study do not constitute endorsement of the product by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, T.H. and J.C-G.; methodology, S.B., J.C-G. and P.A.; resources, T.H., S.B. and J.C-G.; writing and original draft preparation, T.H.; review and editing, T.H., S.B., J.C-G. and P.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.