GAME TRENDS OF THE TURKISH BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

Abstract

Although basketball is a highly followed sport in Turkey, there is a noticeable lack of research on the Turkish Basketball Super League, regarding the changes and game trends that have occurred over the years. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the changes in game trends and the game-related statistics in the Turkish Basketball Super League over the past ten seasons. Per-game, game-related statistics used in this study has obtained from online basketball.realgm.com website. Game-related statistics analysed for bsl teams’ performance across multiple seasons (2013-2023) include points per game, field goals made, field goals attempted, field goal percentage, 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goals attempted, 3-point field goal percentage, free throws attempted, rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, blocks per game, and turnovers. Means and descriptive were generated to analyse average statistics from each season. All statistical analyses were completed with SPSS (Version 26.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Analysing BSL data from 2013 to 2023, teams have shown improved scoring efficiency, as points per game and three-point attempts have increased. The league has seen consistent scoring improvements, enhanced three-point shooting, and an increased focus on teamwork and rebounding. Teams have also emphasized teamwork, with consistent averages for assists and rebounds per game. Defensive efforts have remained stable, with steals and blocks showing minor fluctuations. Turnovers have decreased over time, indicating better ball security. As a result, it has been observed that the offensive performance of the teams in BSL has increased and team play continues steadily as the seasons progress. This research can provide valuable information in terms of analysing the league and understanding game strategies.