National Players vs. Foreign Players: what distinguishes their game performances? A study in the Portuguese Basketball League. [Jugadores Nacionales vs. Jugadores Extranjeros: ¿qué distingue su rendimiento en el juego? Un estudio en la Liga Portuguesa de Baloncesto].

Resumen

Abstract

This study identified the game-related statistics that best differentiate national and foreign players competing in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 Portuguese Basketball League (LPB) seasons. Sample included 337 male professional basketball players, divided in national (n=249), community (n=30) and extra-community (n=58) according to their nationality. The following seventeen game-related statistics were obtained from the official box-scores of the Portuguese Basketball Federation: minutes, points scored, 2-point shots made, 2-point shots attempt, 3-point shots made, 3-point shots attempt, free throws made, free throws attempt, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, assists, turnovers, steals, blocks, fouls committed, fouls received and MVP. When controlling for playing time, foreign players outperformed national players in almost all offensive and defensive tasks of the game. Nevertheless, national players presented better performances in 3-point shots attempt (p<0.05, η²=0.02), assists (p<0.01, η²=0.04) and steals (p<0.01, η²=0.03). Despite the supremacy of foreign players, it is acceptable to suggest that the high effectiveness demonstrated by the domestic players in these tasks of the game make them also essential for teams’ success.

Resumen

Este estudio identificó las estadísticas del juego que mejor diferencian a los jugadores nacionales y extranjeros que compitieron en las temporadas 2014/15 y 2015/16 de la Liga Portuguesa de Baloncesto (LPB). La muestra incluyó 337 jugadores profesionales masculinos de baloncesto que se han dividido en nacional (n=249), comunitario (n=30) y extracomunitario (n=58) según su nacionalidad. Las siguientes diecisiete estadísticas del juego se obtuvieron de las puntuaciones oficiales de la Federación Portuguesa de Baloncesto: minutos, puntos anotados, tiros de 2 puntos realizados, intentos de tiros de 2 puntos, tiros de 3 puntos realizados, intentos de tiros de 3 puntos, tiro libre, intento de tiro libre, rebotes defensivos, rebotes ofensivos, asistencias, balones pérdidas, balones recuperados, tapones, faltas cometidas, faltas recibidas y MVP. Después de controlar para el tiempo de juego, los jugadores extranjeros superaron a los jugadores nacionales en casi todas las tareas ofensivas y defensivas del juego. Sin embargo, los jugadores nacionales presentaron mejores actuaciones en intentos de triples (p<0.05, η2=0.02), asistencias (p<0.01, η²=0.04) y balones recuperados (p<0.01, η²=0.03). A pesar de la supremacía de los jugadores extranjeros, es aceptable sugerir que la alta efectividad demostrada por los jugadores nacionales en estas tareas del juego los hace también esenciales para el éxito de los equipos.

https://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2018.05407

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