When surveyed in January 2025, it was found that the age group with the highest share of NBA fans was the 35 to 49-year-old demographic. In total, 26.2 percent of respondents in this age bracket were fans of the world's leading basketball league. Meanwhile, 7.2 percent of 13 to 17-year-olds were NBA fans.

A survey conducted in January 2025 in the United States revealed that over half of NBA fans were Caucasian. Meanwhile, 20.7 percent were Hispanic.

Analysis of ‘NBA Players’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://www.kaggle.com/justinas/nba-players-data on 28 January 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

Update 02-08-2021: The data now includes 2020 season and metrics for 2019 have been updated.

Update 08-03-2020: The data now includes 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Keep in mind that metrics like gp, pts, reb, etc. are not complete for 2019 season, as it is ongoing at the time of upload.

Context

As a life-long fan of basketball I always wanted to combine my enthusiasm for the sport with passion for analytics 🏀📊. So, I utilized the NBA Stats API to pull together this data set. I hope it will prove to be as interesting to work with for you as it has been for me!

Content

The data set contains over two decades of data on each player who has been part of an NBA teams' roster. It captures demographic variables such as age, height, weight and place of birth, biographical details like the team played for, draft year and round. In addition, it has basic box score statistics such as games played, average number of points, rebounds, assists, etc.

The pull initially contained 52 rows of missing data. The gaps have been manually filled using data from Basketball Reference. I am not aware of any other data quality issues.

Analysis Ideas

The data set can be used to explore how age/height/weight tendencies have changed over time due to changes in game philosophy and player development strategies. Also, it could be interesting to see how geographically diverse the NBA is and how oversees talents have influenced it. A longitudinal study on players' career arches can also be performed.

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

As of March 2024, NASCAR fans in the United States tended to be younger on average than the general population, with most fans being aged under 44. Only 16 percent of NASCAR fans were aged 65 and over, compared to 21 percent of the wider U.S. population.

Update 06-08-2022: The data now includes 2021 season.

Update 02-08-2021: The data now includes 2020 season and metrics for 2019 have been updated.

Update 08-03-2020: The data now includes 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Keep in mind that metrics like gp, pts, reb, etc. are not complete for 2019 season, as it is ongoing at the time of upload.

Context

As a life-long fan of basketball I always wanted to combine my enthusiasm for the sport with passion for analytics 🏀📊. So, I utilized the NBA Stats API to pull together this data set. I hope it will prove to be as interesting to work with for you as it has been for me!

Content

The data set contains over two decades of data on each player who has been part of an NBA teams' roster. It captures demographic variables such as age, height, weight and place of birth, biographical details like the team played for, draft year and round. In addition, it has basic box score statistics such as games played, average number of points, rebounds, assists, etc.

The pull initially contained 52 rows of missing data. The gaps have been manually filled using data from Basketball Reference. I am not aware of any other data quality issues.

Analysis Ideas

The data set can be used to explore how age/height/weight tendencies have changed over time due to changes in game philosophy and player development strategies. Also, it could be interesting to see how geographically diverse the NBA is and how oversees talents have influenced it. A longitudinal study on players' career arches can also be performed.

Introduction

I've been really interested in plotting and visualizing different NBA trends throughout this Thanksgiving break. Recently, I have been wanting to fact-check a common axiom I hear around the NBA during draft season: the notion that *older* draft prospects tend to have have *lower* upside. This is such a widespread belief that it can be heard on all levels, from NBA fan discussion on r/nba, to media draft analysis, to even GMs speaking about their draft choices.

For this visualization, I calculated the age of every lottery pick in the NBA draft from 1995 - 2015. I started at 1995 since this was the first modern "prep-to-pro" year with Kevin Garnett jumping from high school to the NBA. I ended at 2015 since I don't think we can develop an accurate read on the career trajectory of draft picks chosen after 2015 yet.

For each age range, I plotted a boxplot to visualize the distribution of the players' career PER, WS/48, BPM, and VORP. Let me know if you prefer to see another stat included here - I just went with the ones that Basketball Reference had publicly available.

Data

Here is the link to my plot

Key Results and Conclusions

Minimal differences among 18-21 year old prospects

It seems that differences in "upside" among 18-21 year old prospects are largely contrived by our brain's intuition, since there do not appear to be any significant difference in performance or success in the NBA for 18-19 year olds when compared to 19-20 and 20-21 year olds. Although VORP shows that the best of the best players since 1995 have been those drafted at age 18-19, the variation in distribution of BPM, WS/48, and career PER data is much lower.

Thus, we should be a lot more careful when assigning more favorable grades to extremely young prospects because they don't seem to have markedly better careers when compared to their slightly older counterparts. (Example: The data shows that 20.8 year old Donovan Mitchell would not have any different upside than 18.9 year old Kevin Knox)

Lower Extreme values for 22+ year old prospects

Interestingly, it looks like the median production is not really affected by the age of the prospect selected at all. However, there are some clear differences in the extremes.

The collective distribution of 22 and 23 year old lottery prospects shows that they tend to have much lower upper quartiles and extreme values, thus the best-case scenarios for these types of players is not as exciting. Although this difference is not as pronounced for 18-21 year olds, there is a huge drop off in the upper extreme values when moving from the 21-22 year old range to the 22-23 range.

Contrary to many other contexts, the NBA draft is a lot more about the outliers than it is about the median selection - each team is gambling on their pick becoming a future Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki, and a successful draft would mean finding a franchise player-level talent. Therefore, our final conclusion is that although there are minimal differences in upside when comparing prospects in the 18-21 age range, 22+ year old prospects tend to have markedly lower ceilings than their younger peers.

​

Acknowledgements/Notes

• Data was scraped from basketball reference (player pages, draft pages, advanced stats pages) as well as wikipedia (specific dates of each draft for age calculation). Scraping was done using beautiful soup.
• Figures were processed using numpy/pandas and visualized in matplotlib.
• Sample sizes for each age range:

Economic theory suggests that both athletes and team managers should trade off the security of a longer contract and annual salary when negotiating contracts. However, previous research on sports contract structure has established that in practice, there is generally a positive relationship between length and salary, even when controlling for performance variables. Research has attempted to solve this issue using instrumental variables with limited success. We suggest the key factor of player popularity as a potential solution for the endogeneity issue, and in the absence of suitable instruments, use the nonlinear structure of NBA contract length to identify the model. Using fan All-star votes as a proxy for popularity, we find that it is positively correlated with both length and salary and that popularity shows diminishing returns to both contract length and salary as a player increases in age.

This graph shows the distribution of the NBA regular season ********* TV audience by age group. Viewers aged 18 to 34 comprised ** percent of the NBA regular season television audience in the ******* season.

The global basketball equipment market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing popularity of basketball worldwide, rising participation rates across various age groups, and continuous technological advancements in equipment design and materials. The market's expansion is further fueled by the significant media coverage of professional leagues like the NBA and WNBA, inspiring aspiring players and fostering a broader consumer base. While precise figures for market size and CAGR are unavailable in the provided data, a reasonable estimation based on industry reports and the presence of major players like Adidas, Nike, and Amer Sports suggests a market valued in the billions of dollars, with a CAGR likely within the range of 5-8% for the forecast period (2025-2033). This growth, however, is subject to certain restraints, including economic fluctuations impacting discretionary spending on sporting goods and the cyclical nature of equipment demand linked to major sporting events. Market segmentation reveals strong demand across various product types, including basketballs, shoes, apparel, and accessories, and across applications ranging from professional leagues to amateur recreational play. The North American and European markets currently hold significant shares, but rapidly developing economies in Asia-Pacific are poised to contribute significantly to future growth. Key regional variations exist. North America, with its established basketball culture and strong presence of major brands, maintains a considerable market share. However, the Asia-Pacific region, especially China and India, is witnessing exponential growth due to increasing disposable incomes and a burgeoning middle class keen to participate in sports. Europe demonstrates a mature market with steady growth, influenced by established sporting leagues and a robust sports infrastructure. The competitive landscape includes established giants like Adidas, Nike, and Amer Sports, alongside specialized manufacturers like Rawlings and Spalding. These companies employ strategies focused on innovation, endorsements, and expanding distribution networks to maintain their market positions. The ongoing focus on improving the performance and durability of basketball equipment, coupled with the increasing emphasis on sustainable manufacturing practices, will be crucial factors shaping the market’s future trajectory.

Licensed Sports Merchandise Market Outlook

The licensed sports merchandise market size was valued at approximately $33 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $48 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecast period. This growth is driven by an increasing global interest in sports and sports-related activities, alongside a rising trend of sports fandom that spans across different age groups and demographics. The industry has seen a robust expansion due to the proliferation of various sports leagues and international events which have further amplified consumer interest and spending on licensed products. The surge in digital engagement and the growth of e-commerce platforms have also played a pivotal role in broadening the reach and accessibility of licensed sports merchandise.

One of the primary growth factors for this market is the immense popularity of sports events and leagues such as the FIFA World Cup, Olympics, and the NBA which have established a broad and enthusiastic fan base worldwide. These events encourage fans to express their loyalty and support through purchasing licensed merchandise, which includes everything from apparel and footwear to accessories and home décor. Furthermore, the globalization of sports leagues has led to a significant increase in international viewership, contributing to higher demand for team-branded products from a diverse and global customer base.

Technological advancements have also been a substantial growth driver in the licensed sports merchandise market. The rise of online platforms has made it easier for fans to access a wide array of products, facilitating impulse buying and increasing sales. Social media platforms, too, have played a crucial role in marketing sports merchandise to a broader audience by creating fan-focused content and campaigns that enhance brand visibility and engagement. E-commerce flexibility, coupled with secure payment options, has paved the way for easier transactions, which has been particularly beneficial for customers looking for limited edition or exclusive items.

Another significant factor contributing to market growth is the increasing inclination towards athleisure, a trend that combines athletic and leisure wear. This has broadened the appeal of sports apparel beyond just sports fans to include the general fashion-conscious public, thereby expanding the potential consumer base. Additionally, collaborations between sports teams and high-profile fashion designers have resulted in unique merchandise offerings that attract consumers from both sports and fashion spheres, further driving the market growth.

Regionally, North America currently holds the largest market share due to the presence of popular sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, as well as a high level of consumer spending on sports merchandise. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate over the forecast period, driven by the increasing adoption of western sports culture and the rising disposable income of consumers in countries like China and India. The European market is also significant, with a strong following for football and rugby, contributing to the demand for team-branded merchandise.

Product Type Analysis

The product type segment of the licensed sports merchandise market is broadly categorized into apparel, footwear, accessories, toys, home décor, and others. Among these, apparel constitutes the largest share, driven by the enduring popularity of jerseys, t-shirts, and other team-branded clothing among sports fans. The fashion industry's embrace of sportswear, coupled with the athleisure trend, has further fueled the demand for licensed sports apparel. These products are not only used for sporting purposes but have also become a staple in casual wear, thereby increasing their appeal to a broader audience.

Footwear holds a significant position in the market as well, particularly due to collaborations between sports brands and celebrity athletes, which have led to the creation of exclusive and high-demand sneaker lines. These collaborations often result in limited edition releases that drive purchase urgency among consumers, especially sneaker enthusiasts. The growing trend of wearing sporty sneakers as everyday footwear has also boosted sales in this segment, aligning well with both fashion and comfort preferences of modern consumers.

The accessories segment, which includes items like caps, bags, and wristbands, is another vital area contributing to market growth. These products tend to be lower in price compared to a

According to a January 2025 survey, **** percent of WNBA fans in the United States were female. Meanwhile, the same survey revealed that the largest ethnic group among the WNBA's fanbase was *********.

Over the past few years, the US has seen a significant shift in the political sentiment surrounding sports betting and gambling, following the Supreme Court overruling a law which forbade states from...

An average of **** million viewers tuned in to watch NBA regular season games across ABC, ESPN and TNT in the 2024/25 season. This marked a slight decline in the number of viewers from the previous season.

In the 2022/23 NBA season, there were ** African American head coaches in comparison to ** white head coaches. Going back to 2010, this was the first time that the number of African American head coaches in the NBA exceeded the number of white head coaches. Head coach of Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, remained the only Asian-American coach in the league.

From the big name brands that announced NFT plans, the ones that attracted the most interest - roughly **** out of 10 U.S. respondents - were related to fashion. When asked during an online survey in March 2021, female respondents from different age groups revealed an interest in a potential NFT from Nike, for instance. The sneaker company owns a patent called "CryptoKicks" which pairs a non-fungible token with a physical shoe release, potentially changing the market for reselling sneakers. Male respondents in the survey also had an interest in sneakers, but also showed interest in either the NFT from Taco Bell - the fast food chain sold taco-themed GIFs and images on NFT marketplace Rarible a few weeks before this survey was held - or sports-related NFTs. The source does not mention whether the NBA figure refers to NBA Top Shot, one of the most popular collectible card games in the NFT sphere.

The 2025 NBA Finals were watched by an average of **** million viewers in the United States. This marked a decline from the previous year when **** million viewers tuned in to watch the Boston Celtics clinch a record 18th NBA championship win against the Dallas Mavericks. How did the 2025 Finals play out? The 2025 championship series was contested between the Oklahoma City Thunder, champions of the Western Conference, and the Indiana Pacers, winners of the Eastern Conference. The Thunder emerged victorious in a back-and-forth seven game series, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding a championship ring to his NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards for the 2025 season. Celebrations, however, were somewhat overshadowed by a horror Achilles heel injury sustained by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in Game 7. How did viewership of the NBA Finals compare to other major US sporting events? In 2025, NBA Finals viewership was only a fraction of the number of viewers of the Super Bowl in the U.S., with the latter exceeding *** million that year. Meanwhile, viewership of the World Series was more comparable to that of the NBA Finals, reaching over 14 million in 2024.

In the 2023/24 season, the Golden State Warriors generated the most revenue from the National Basketball Association franchises. Specifically, the Golden State Warriors generated 800 million U.S. dollars in revenue by the end of the season.

In 2023, the greatest share of players by ethnic group in the National Football League (NFL) were black or African American athletes, constituting just over ** percent of players within the NFL. Despite the large population of Hispanic or Latino people within the United States, there is a substantial underrepresentation within the NFL, with only *** percent of players identifying as such. National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that was established in 1920 and now consists of 32 clubs divided into two conferences, the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The league culminates in the Super Bowl, the NFL's annual championship game. As the league’s championship game, the Super Bowl has grown into one of the world's largest single-day sporting events, attracting high television ratings and generating billions of dollars in consumer spending. NFL revenues The NFL is one of the most profitable sports leagues in the world, generating a staggering **** billion U.S. dollars in 2022. This total revenue of all ** NFL teams has constantly increased over the past 15 years and, although this figure dropped significantly in 2020, this was largely as a result of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) containment measures. This significant drop in revenue demonstrates one of the primary impacts of COVID-19 on professional sports leagues. NFL franchises As a result of this profitability in non-pandemic times, the franchises of the NFL are attributed extremely high market values. The Dallas Cowboys were by far the most valuable franchise in the NFL, with a market value of **** billion US dollars in 2023. The high value of NFL franchises can be seen clearly when compared to those of the NBA, MLB, and NHL. Franchises within the NFL had an average market value of approximately *** billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Founded in 1996, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a professional basketball league composed of 12 teams from the United States. The Indiana Fever registered the highest average attendance across the 2023 season with 17,036. That season, the Fever secured the services of college basketball sensation Caitlin Clark, who went on to break a series of rookie and all-time records. One such record was the number of assists made in a single WNBA game. Player salaries in the WNBA Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces was the highest earner in the WNBA in the 2024 season, having earned an annual salary of 252 thousand U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, looking at the average annual salaries in the WNBA vs. the NBA, the average WNBA player took home around 120 thousand U.S. dollars at the end of the year, which was nearly 100 times lower than the average NBA player salary. WNBA league records Since the opening season in 1997, former and current WNBA players have been setting high standards and surpassing old ones throughout the course of the competition. Sue Bird was the career games leader of the WNBA, having played 580 professional games prior to her retirement in 2022. Meanwhile, the WNBA's all-time scoring leader was Diana Taurasi, who began her career with the Phoenix Mercury in 2004. Overall, three WNBA teams held the record for most WNBA championships during the history of the league, all winning four championships apiece.

The 2024 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) regular season games were watched by an average of ******* viewers across media platforms in the United States. This was a significant increase from the previous year and made the **** season the league’s highest-viewed regular season in the last 24 years.