Enhancing team dynamics: Unveiling synergy effects through social network analysis in professional basketball
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The objective of this study was to: (1) redefine player roles of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) players using a clustering model, grounded in offensive and defensive Play Type data; (2) Utilize social network analysis (SNA) to examine the connections and synergy effect between player positions in lineups that demonstrate offensive excellence, defensive excellence, and net rating excellence. The sample gathered included 20 clubs throughout five seasons (2018–2019 to 2022–2023) of the CBA, which included 1813 players and 22,661 samples of lineup data. The clustering results of the study classified CBA players into 19 distinct player roles. Further analysis revealed that: (1) only ten player roles were highly correlated with excellent lineups; (2) the presence of the C6 Core Ball Handler enhanced the performance of most teammates; (3) the C1 Off-Ball Shooter's performance heavily depended on the interaction with the C6 Ball Handler and the C2 Versatile Big; and (4) the C3 Ball Dominant Scorer negatively impacted the performance of all other player roles. These results reveal new insights into players' fingerprints and offer coaches a fresh perspective on team composition. • Redefinition of Player Roles: The study uses Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) clustering to redefine 19 distinct player roles based on offensive and defensive play type data from the past five seasons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). • Relationship Between Player Roles and Lineup Performance: Social Network Analysis (SNA) was employed to examine the synergy effects among different player roles within lineups that exhibit offensive excellence, defensive excellence, and high net ratings. Ten key player roles were identified as highly correlated with excellent lineups. • Impact of Key Player Roles: The presence of roles such as C6 Core Ball Handler and C2 Versatile Big significantly enhanced the performance of most teammates, while the C3 Ball Dominant Scorer had a negative impact on the performance of other roles. • Tactical Application and Player Combinations: A matrix and network analysis evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of various player role combinations, revealing that combinations like the C1 Off-Ball Shooter and C6 Core Ball Handler significantly improved lineup net ratings. • Practical Application and Strategic Guidance: The findings provide practical guidance for coaches in formulating lineup strategies and making in-game player substitutions. Additionally, they offer a foundational reference for team managers for player trades, drafts, and hiring decisions during and between seasons.
Source: Acta Psychologica
Authors: Bufan Wei, Zengyu Li, Changjing Zhou, Miguel-Ángel Gómez, Mingxin Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,670
Funder: Shanghai University of Sport
Award: G3844246758
OpenAlex ID: W4415292229