NBA stat inflation | Comparing today's players to the past

We constantly compare today's stats to the past, but these aren't fair comparisons. Rule changes and tactics have inflated or deflated stats in different eras. This video explores the history of those rule changes and how they have radically influenced NBA stats across different time periods, before presenting a handful of ways to adjust stats to today's norms.
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Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
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A Visual History of Spacing: www.backpicks.com/2017/11/02/t...
TEAM REBOUNDING: Before 1969, the NBA counted misses that were whistled dead before a live-ball rebound ("team rebounds") in a team's rebounding total. For instance, during the 1962 season, players were credited with 61.7 rebounds per game (per team), but teams were credited with the 71.4 per game shown in the video. After 1969, these rebounds weren't counted in team totals and set aside as "team rebounds." More on historical rebounding here: forums.realgm.com/boards/view...
Player art by @CrumpledJumper
Music by Jordan Ciurcovich (Forest)

[@ThinkingBasketball]

Thanks for the great feedback on this. Hoping to make more stats videos in the future so it's awesome to hear positive reactions! Thanks again to Hardwood Amino -- you can download the app here: App Store: apple.co/2TZ2zGt Google Play: bit.ly/2urrQLr Follow Me: ElGee

[@eekobe88reganit36]

Im new subcriber!pls do a video about kobe

[@cauezimmermann538]

Congratulations on the content you put up. I bet it takes a lot of time to research and do the analysis. Very smart approach on the topic! Keep it up!

[@philwilson609]

I appreciate the effort, but you missed the most important evolutionary change in the nature of the NBA even though it slapped you across the snout. You cite Doncic and Giannis as representing the concept of modern production, yet, astonishingly, you miss the fact that these two players are from Slovenia and Greece. There were no players from foreign nations in Wilt's day, and the huge explosion of basketball as an international industry, as opposed to a local pastime, is far more critical than the changes in strategies and rules. Players are flat out better due to the Darwinian cauldron of world wide competition. One should view the evolved conventions of dribbling as reflecting years of experimentation and creative innovation. It is piss poor to imagine that Cousy and Petit were restricted by rules - rather, they did not yet conceive of the array of possibilities that the game offered. The rules follow the themes of invention, not vice versa. BTW, Cousy often dribbled behind his back in the 50's and was not called for palming even though it is not possible to dribble behind ones back without getting a palm on the side of the ball.

[@chadjackson4786]

Do one on if Reggie and Ray Allen shot 13 3's a game like harden

[@imjerry4313]

Dude you are awesome

[@anotherdudeontheblock7061]

Everytime I watch these videos I feel my knowledge has inflated

[@Coregame3]

inb4 this video blows up like an Iraqi mosque

[@jlui21]

-- so if you adjust for 2019's inflation rate, your knowledge in 1969 drops by about 14%?

[@mcentepede]

Elgin Baylor was probably way ahead of his times....Dunking on Bill Russell, crossover dribble, Eurostep.....he looks like a modern type player if you consider the technique he using

[@pearlywhites3025]

@Steve Jobs It's not supposed to be a perfect comparison, and he very clearly states in the video that much of the changes across eras are based on rule changes, and it's impossible to perfectly account for that. If you were going to compare stats across eras, how would you do it better?

[@milto2269]

The quality of this video is unreal, I am sure you put an incredible effort in it. Keep this consistency and being the best nba channel would be a reality soon.

[@JulioCesar-zl1km]

He is the best nba channel, the only one who can beat him is heat check

[@benjaminbaumgardner7620]

Baraa Katsha Already one of my favorites!

[@jordankartchner4090]

Amen.

[@cantera631]

Totally agree - outstanding work

[@richardrodriguez4852]

I thought it missed a few key elements and his formula didn’t take into consideration some factors.

[@MrC77]

Finally someone talks about the dribbling rule changes.

[@libraalibaba]

Exactly people always try to make it seems as if they couldn't dribble. When in reality we've just been doing advanced double dribble and carry.

[@NostalgicMem0ries]

@@libraalibaba not to mention wilts camping under rim without 5 in key, offensive and defensive rim interference, self passes from backboard after FT etc etc

[@oh3905]

memories there's was key violations, and that was banned before wilt wven got to college gtfo

[@abstractdaddy1384]

Yeah seriously. If that's what's allowed by the rules, fine, i don't care, but don't try to tell me this street ball crap isn't being given a huge amount of leeway.

[@totem91]

Adjusted for inflation, Dennis Rodman is the best rebounder of all times. Even when the dinosaurs ruled the earth, Dennis was grabbing boards among the brachiosaurs.

[@DreamWorldSyd]

Brachiosaurs don't have hands though...

[@chrissullivan6572]

@@DreamWorldSyd They used their mouth, duh.

[@sabbywins]

Still couldn't rebound that asteroid though.

[@vipcyclone2531]

@@sabbywins this comment killed then resurrected me

[@marceldwayne8491]

Nooooooooo...... Wilt & Russell control the narrative with best rebounder. Dennis only worry about defense & rebound. That's it. Wilt did wayyyyy more.

[@movementman9777]

So basically Wilt is an alien no matter what.

[@blackmanwhitesuit]

As were Wayne Gretzky, Barry Bonds, Pele, and Jim Brown

[@carmeloanthony3258]

Blackman Whitesuit as long as steroids where made at the time

[@blackmanwhitesuit]

@@carmeloanthony3258 Steroid Era was still an era, but that pertains to Bonds. Gretzky is otherworldly in the world of hockey.

[@carmeloanthony3258]

Blackman Whitesuit I was just speaking about Barry I don’t know much about hockey

[@matthewdoolan2257]

@@blackmanwhitesuit Pele played against rice farmers, Messi easily the GOAT

[@movementman9777]

It’s impossible to fairly compare players between eras. But still we do it anyway because arguing is fun.

[@zinedinhadzajlija6225]

If there is anything that's gonna make me stop watching the NBA, it's the apsurd amount of arguing combined with the rather small amount of knowledge.

[@Tethloach1]

It is not impossible to make a fair approximation of how someone would compare in an era. Wilt would be similar to Shaq in the modern era 33-35 points per game and maybe 12 -15 rebounds a game. Scoring ability has to do with the players ability and how the game is played. All of the decisions they make on the court, how ell adjusted they are to play different styles or play in different eras.

[@Tethloach1]

Scoring a lot of points means you are very creative, and have versatility. passing the ball means you are very creative and versatile. A players play style means how they approach the game, Wilt is similar to shack a lot in approach and style. LeBron is similar to Magic but has more athletic ability than Magic.

[@movementman9777]

but it’s an approximation though. there are a lot of smaller things that don’t get factored in. every variable matters

[@Tethloach1]

@@movementman9777 I agree every variable matters.

[@GeordieHalma]

You gotta adjust Wilt's 20,000 women figure for inflation to draw fair comparisons against the greats of other eras.

[@vza7938]

lol...legend on court and on bed

[@michaelkrebs1311]

Looks like the Greek Freak is a freak on the court and in the sheets - Giannis

[@MrDotaleavers]

@@vza7938 his belair home, had an orgy room. No other NBA players, acknowledge this except wilt.

[@AWolf-gq2vu]

- BadYoshi - He’s too nice though. For better or worse.

[@alik5972]

If we adjust the increase of the number of thots that would make 25.000 women

[@SethKasso]

This video was fantastic. When most people talk about stat conversions, they kinda just use it as a middle finger to the past. But the way you did it makes perfect sense and the ending was a great way to finish off the topic. A+ work on the average. Easily one of my favorite channels to watch.

[@realnigga42069]

Bro ur mad underrated

[@CoolStuff-yr8ye]

Your name is mad underrated.

[@realnigga42069]

Thanks bud

[@juanmoran8126]

I was thinking the same thing Real Nigga

[@mrslick58]

The fact that Wilt Chamberlain played 48.5 mpg at such a high pace is absolutely insane to me.

[@mrslick58]

@jross2330 I do watch the games and there was basically no half court offense so Wilt Chamberlain who loved to race back on both offense and defense did a lot of running, plus the amount of jumping he did on rebounds and blocks.

[@philwilson609]

I am 71 years old and saw lots of old school basketball. It was crude, plodding, slow and stodgy by today's standards. No one in the 50's and 60's put in the mileage that Steph or James Harden do. It is silly to believe that athletes used to be in better shape than they are now.

[@mrslick58]

@@philwilson609 today on average their more athletic especially since there's a lot more players but wilt in my opinion is the greatest athlete in NBA history.

[@capitanawesome44]

He played all those minutes and slept with all those women. I don’t see how the top athletes of today even w performance enhancers could do that today

[@philwilson609]

@@mrslick58 For shear athletic gifts, no one had more than Wilt. He ran a 48 sec quarter in high school! I seriously doubt that Giannis or KD could ever touch that, but in terms of skill the two latter players are miles beyond Wilt who could not dribble or shoot. If Wilt had grown up today he might be as great as anyone. If you sent KD back to the 50's he'd score every time he touched the ball and ruin every game.

[@matheusbarreto7281]

Wilt's athletic capacity to play 48 minutes on such high pace is completelly underrated!

[@woltersworld]

Well done. I have debated these things before and wondered about a statistical way to adjust for pace and changes in game. You did a really good job. And as you said, there is no perfect way to do it. but you did a really good job. thank you.

[@libraalibaba]

I come back to this video every now and again when people try to sell me on just focusing on base numbers.

[@Illinilifer98]

Glad to see one of my favorite professors/youtube personalities enjoys this type of content as well! ILL

[@david.tousignant20]

Wilt Chamberlain once stated he would had dropped 70 PPG if he played in the 1980s. He talked about it in 1989 on Roy Firestone's show... And many of his peers agreed on that point. Players saw the game changing and they didn't like changes. In 2019, old heads are criticising modern stars of the game. Again. By saying how basketball was at his peak during their own days. But, they forgot how past athletes criticised them in the 1980s or 1990s. The game's always changing. Great players found a way to dominate. That's why there's great; they are adapting to anything. Cream always rise to the top!

[@allanhouston6759]

Wilt overrated

[@has3219]

Wilt played when there were restrictions on the number of black players on a team so none of his stats count

[@liamm6208]

And by the logic the old heads use to rank players they think that Paul George is a better basketball player then Stephen Curry just because Paul George is elite on both ends of the court and can takeover a game at will and they act like Paul George is a top 5 player in the NBA and some even say he's better or more valuable than James Harden and Giannis Anteokunmpo.

[@senpai1574]

@@allanhouston6759 nah

[@kidtristan4073]

@@allanhouston6759 nah

[@jonathanking8800]

So a man the height and weight of Shaquille O'Neal never left the court, ran faster and jumped higher than Lebron James, and even when handicapping his numbers unnecessarily to adjust to the modern league which was in many ways shaped, by him, still had the best season ever had by a player. Wilt doesn't get enough respect.

[@armandodelossantos736]

He never mentioned competition tho.. Wilts era was still the weakest era for competition

[@steffwes1312]

Armando De Los Santos he played bill russell and Kareem at least 8 times each every season

[@armandodelossantos736]

@@steffwes1312 and he played the worst teams in history at least 10 times a season

[@JohnJohn-od6oc]

Lebron and Shaq would average 100 in that era

[@user-jk6np5kf7p]

But a lot of Wilts legend is BS. He would have never been faster or jumped higher than Lebron James, thats just bullshit media narrative. Watch the tapes, for someone 7'1" with a claimed 48 vert, he never once got his head above the rim (which would be only 35inches). Not once.

[@amazaltarim]

This is the most fairest stat / era comparison I have ever seen anyone put forth. When comparing data of this nature in science, we have to "standardize" data sets, and you have done this to the best of your abilities. As you said, we can never truly compare eras but you have done an excellent job attempting to. Keep it up!

[@babymaker7425]

This is a stout performance by you.

[@ThinkingBasketball]

🙏

[@Dansg08]

Superb video, I find the numbers behind the NBA almost as fascinating as what goes on on the court, I was pleased to see Wilt still come out on top even after all the adjustment, many are quick to downplay his achievements because of the era he played. It also goes to show how legitimately incredible Luka and Giannis' seasons have been.

[@TheAnonapersons]

Stats don't always translate into true accuracy otherwise houston would of won 20 titles by now and they do everything by stats .. there's always luck and the competition people played against... take into account wilt was playing against the same 8-12 teams most of his career ...

[@servus_incognitus]

It is also very feasible to consider that Wilt playing in a team today would average more possessions per game than league average, meaning his scoring would probably be higher. It was good idea to look at Wilt's played minutes and reduced them according to percentage. The same should be done with the possessions per game his team played in relation to league average.

[@du2thurl42]

Wilt didn’t elevate his teams offenses with his volume scoring . Bill > Wilt

[@craigvandenberge6520]

It is always forgotten that Wilt came into the league in an era where the league itself was barely established. Wilt was told to score as much as possible as a draw for fans. It was more of a circus show than a demonstration of perfect team play. Also worth pointing out that Wilt's teammates talked about Wilt trying to come out of the game long before getting to 100 and being mildly ashamed of taking 63 fga after the fact. Was he perfect?, no. Was he a selfish glory hound?, maybe a bit, but nowhere near the extent usually claimed.

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Facts

[@Papichulo-xc5nd]

Craig vandenberge did they tell him to drop his scoring every year in the playoffs?

[@Papichulo-xc5nd]

@@BoosterGoldEarth6 did they tell him to stop scoring in the playoffs?

[@11DowningStreet]

"wilt was told to score as much as possible" source: john cena

[@z4ng3tsu1ch1g0]

Crazy how MJ has the best career PER in NBA history while playing in an era of iso ball (aka inefficient in today’s league) and the slowest pace in league history. MJ was also a volume shooter who chucked a lot of mid ranged jumpers unlike the other PER leaders (lebron and wilt) who scored mostly in the paint. This is just testament to just how great MJ really was. 🐐🐐🐐

[@neimi911]

MJ played in the era of iso. It benefited him. He is on record stating that scoring against zone defence was one of the most difficult things he had to do as a basket ball player. And he called for the removal of zone defence along with players like tmac. Hand checking was removed when mj was playing btw. Also, mj was averaging 9 free throws a game back then. You can watch tape. The idea of the game was physical as fuck and you don't get a foul unless if it's a flagrant foul is just wrong. In short, illegal defence made scoring easier than zone. They used to give fouls normally back in the 90s and 80s. Hand checking was removed when mj was playing.(even before then)

[@GammaBoom]

@@neimi911 Hand checking was banned in the 2000's. You are right about zone defense though. It was illegal in MJ era but the best teams still played a loose man-to-man defense and thus allowing for easier help defense and almost mimicking a zone defense.

[@neimi911]

@@GammaBoom kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5WyhpWHpr6VaZI

[@PowerGearPerformance]

@@neimi911 removal of hand check started after the jordan era

[@neimi911]

@@PowerGearPerformance check the link I posted or read a bit on NBA rules history. 1978: Clarification added to prohibit hand-checking through “rigid enforcement” of rule allowing a defensive player to retain contact with his opponent so long as he does not impede his opponent’s progress. 1994: Hand-checking eliminated from the end line in the backcourt to the opposite foul line 1997: A defender will not be permitted to use his forearm to impede the progress of an offensive player who is facing the basket in the frontcourt. 1999: In the backcourt, there is no contact with hands and forearms by defenders. 2004: New rules were introduced to curtail hand-checking, clarify blocking fouls and call defensive three seconds Where is it that hand checking was fully legal in the Jordan era? It was always frowned upon. I've seen a couple of hand check fouls go Jordan's way fyi.

[@knoda2603]

Pippen without a doubt traveled

[@lildwell2]

It wasn't traveling because the rule changed. Technically, every player on every team since the 50s traveled.

[@crisaracon7379]

The gather rule allowed players like MJ Pippen Lebron Giannis to dribble only twice in fastbreaks and go for a dunk. Giannis even reduced it to one sometimes.

[@Posesso]

xD

[@TheJoeytsao]

As an economics major, I am incredibly impressed with this analysis, great video as always. keep up the good work!

[@brylinsmith3797]

Major doesn’t equal No how/ professional, with that being said, he does really good analysis

[@hugovega6438]

You don’t need ESPN . ESPN needs you

[@yvesmija]

Common people wont appreciate discussing numbers that are gotten from statistical formulas and actual rationale. They would just want to hear simple stat-lines such as points rebounds assists and the typical “this guy is better than this guy because he has this many rings”

[@6SJW6]

Great video! Feels good to see someone trying to keep in mind as many variables as possible while also admitting that these comparisons really aren’t possible no matter how you analyze it.

[@geoffreyfields6180]

Great video. Ive always thought about stat inflation in todays game and rule changes effecting play comparisons. But at the same time, its still tough

[@JaeBee1718]

This is one of the greatest basketball videos I've ever watched. I literally subscribed just off this one video. I will be binge watching ya whole channel.

[@zachskaer6401]

Have so much respect for this channel. Def gonna donate to your patreon when I am financially stable. I get more satisfaction and meaning from learning from your videos than most of my college courses.

[@benjaminbaumgardner7620]

Wow, this video is insane. So much quality, work and thought must have gone into it. Would love to see you make some more of these player comparisons now that you’ve broken down some of the adjustments you like to make.

[@brianboley870]

This is the best basketball statistics video I have ever seen. Really, really great work!!

[@RDuarte15]

Wow! Amazed by this video. Literally the best video about basketball history ever! WOW

[@randigitymarcum8728]

And for those counting MJ averaged 30 consistently in an era where it was LUDICROUSLY rare

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

True. From his first 30-point season to his last, only two other players averaged at least 30 per game, including the two seasons he didn't qualify for the scoring title because of baseball.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@dhsilv2 I mean, if you have to use a strict cutoff of 25, sure.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@dhsilv2 Average team scoring from the late-70s to early 90s only deviated by about 5.5 points between the minimum and maximum. Jordan had three scoring titles after that and one 30-point season that occurred during the first year of the scoring decline, which lasted basically through 2003-04 before it started steadily increasing again. Scoring was pretty consistent from 2004-05 to 2015-16. The last three seasons have been m ore like that 70s-90s stretch. Take care.

[@subswithoutvids-dw6dv]

@dhsilv2 But in 1996, he still averaged 30+ ppg. He was 33 yrs old, and the league averaged 99.5 ppg.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@dhsilv2 You wouldn't think so, but it's a benchmark that people use because it's pretty rare. We had 11 people average at least 25 points per game this season alone. Only one of them hit 30. The difference is in how often it's accomplished. There's not much difference in MLB between hitting .300 and .250, either, except hundreds of millions of dollars and the HOF.

[@conzoforever]

Amazing video man, please do more videos similar to this one. Loved the easy explanation of the statistics and how they seemlessly flowed through the vid. Keep uploading content like this and you’ll be one of the biggest basketball channels out there bro !

[@matt_greene]

You have, by far, the best NBA analysis on YT. Well done Ben! I hope this channel gets huge and you get all of the credit you deserve.

[@KaleEb449]

Man, I just love you. I don't think I've seen NBA stats better explained and analysed than this. Probably the best basketball content I've seen in a while.

[@TheGbelcher]

I wonder how the definition of assist has changed over time given how subjective that stat is.

[@Solodolo84]

Everybody eats b

[@Shawn.Mathew]

Apparently assists are easier to get now because they are more relaxed

[@henrybuchan4688]

Assists used to be defined as "passes leading directly to a score" so if a player received the ball, dribbled, and then made a shot the passing player would not get credit for an assist. This started to change in the 1970s.

[@kaospat4173]

@@henrybuchan4688 it still is like that in FIBA Basketball and I think it's better that way ...the NBA is handing out assists like candies...if it was like 61-62 today Oscar Robertson would still be the only player ever to average a TD

[@liamm6208]

I mean about 30 or 40% of the Assists in today's game didn't even count back in the day but since the Score keepers have really relaxed the way they score Assists now because it really doesn't matter what pass players make that lead to there teammates scoring because the Score keepers count those passes as Assists and we see a lot of them be made by guys like LeBron and Luka where all they have to do is wait for a teammate to come off a screen then when a teammate comes off a screen they either pump fake a jumpshot then put the ball on the floor then they reload into a jumpshot or They start driving to the basket and score while taking more than 2 dribbles then the Score Keepers give LeBron and Luka Assists on those plays.

[@TC24Legacy]

Excellent presentation! Would love to see a video focused on comparing the defensive rule changes and how that's impacted player mobility on the court - using similar game clips taken from different eras showing how defense was played then vs. now - and how this has impacted scoring and offensive mobility over the decades.

[@tlovin2]

This is one of the best KZbin channels. All I want to do is show the sports world this video so that they can understand that things are very complex to compare across time. I'm tired of the poor comparisons between players on major networks. I hope this is the future of sports analytics. Great video.

[@alaric1170]

Someone who understands statistics! Excellent analysis, even better video. Also interesting that you couldn't twist your Palm when dribbling in the 1960s. For the longest time I thought that players just really sucked at dribbling back then! Learned something new.

[@kimtaphorn9175]

That's the mistake most of the young nba fans did they watch an 80 ball game and think omg that's all busts, and than claim that anybody of this Era would destroy them completely but without in mind that he got a violation after another for travel and palming in this case another travel

[@wat33640]

Did you know that you are one of the smartest KZbinrs out here and you have a great channel that's my analyst for the day.

[@AZNwill81]

Damn one of the best videos I’ve seen ever, not even just about basketball! Loved how u always incorporate stats and numbers into the vids but you took it a step further with the economics analysis into it. U deffo deserve more views and subscribers than u do now

[@wanlittle]

Youre videos are awesome can really tell you put in a lot of work. Keep up the good work!

[@Saki630]

This video is super high quality and needs to be continued. I know there are other stats guys around that could lend you their simulations, supercomputers, and literature reviews to come up with a wonderful video and published work which introduces mathematics and statistics to the current generation so they are able to grasp how good Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were compared to Lebum. And to give some context as to how good James Harden's 50pt+ and free throws really are; how inhuman Klay+Curry's efficiency is for points/minute/possesion -- or how fast you can be down 3 to down 30 pts against them, and how Westbrook's Triple Doubles - including all the ones he did not get due to minutes restriction and other reasons makes him into possibly the best player in the past 10 years for sheer athleticism and natural ability.

[@enriquesinghjr]

A lot of work seems to have gone into this video. Paused it to write this comment + subscribed!

[@amantilla13]

i've been watching your channel for only like a month and i already think you are one of the best nba content creators in youtube. this video is amazing.

[@gabjavc]

Amazing quality vids from you man! the Infographics are also uncanny and spot on. keep it up👍🏻

[@austin78993]

This video is so important. These guys can do most things players today can do. People act like there is some "evolution" of athletes in the past 50 or so years. There's countless TED talks and analysis of this. Darwin would be rolling over in his grave. The game evolves. Rules evolve. Equipment evolves. Etc. I really don't think the athleticism is that different. There's athletic freaks in every era and there are Luka Doncics and Larry Birds in every era. Guys that were unathletic like Zach Randolph or Bob Petit would be unathletic in any era. Guys like Michel Jordan and LeBron would be above average athleticism in any era. Human beings don't evolve in 50 years. It's the game and what those players work on and develop that change.

[@udishomer5852]

If at all, there is a de-evolotion of humans (negative evolution). The reasons are that children with serious physical/mental disorders that would not survive even 100 years ago, are now surviving (due to modern medicine), and passing on their genes to the next generation. Not saying if its good or bad, just that this phenomenon exists.

[@user-jk6np5kf7p]

Its kinda like when people see videos of HS athletes dunking, that shit has always existed, but back in the day they never had the social media platform to show it.

[@lostinspace7782]

Udi Shomer that is plausible but the frequency of occurrence is very unlikely. These “bad gene” would have to be selected for over potentially “stronger” genes. Even if they were, they would only make up half of a genome. The potential for genetic recombination or for genes to not be expressed in subsequent generations would still exist. In addition, there is always the potential for mutations, which may or may not benefit the species, to occur. By definition, evolution is the change in gene frequencies over very long spans of time. With the exception of prokaryotic organisms, it can be reasonably assumed that 50 years, or even a 1000, is an insufficient time frame to measure the effects of evolution on a population.

[@miguelecastro]

@dhsilv2 Agreed. Players like Siakam and the like are perfect for this "positionless" NBA we have now.

[@bernarddelossantos8083]

if todays players are more athletic, its thanks to modern equipments/technologies/science. but one thing is confusing, why are players today more fragile? they play less minutes too but gets injured more easily considering this era is soft, compared to past eras where players actually bleed but still manage to play back.

[@iu8040]

Hey guy, can you do a video comparing some of the most prominent player stats condensed though this method. Like steph, russ, lebron n stuff with the most prominent of other eras, maybe like 10 players for each decade. Good shit btw.

[@TheNiTeMaR3]

Recently became a subscriber, such amazing videos! Just goes to show how hard it is to compare players numbers, let alone players numbers across different eras.. I think sometimes the eye test is more useful than many think!

[@Sn0wM3n111]

you got to continue that way man, pretty much all your content is way better than what I've found on KZbin

[@LazarTheMaster]

Please do that jokic video a lot of people seem to not understand what makes him the best center.

[@fab137]

"embiid better" peeps really dont get it

[@jamesennis5986]

Embiid s better 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@i.theworstguys298]

Embiid is better. I'd much rather have a post scoring defensive monster that has suspect shooting than a five that's a a great shooter and passer but has little post presence and is a total liability on defense.

[@desmcmahon5570]

I'm not sure if he is the best center, but definitely most unique player in the NBA

[@chillaxfact4949]

@Xavier Amador thank u

[@Barncore]

This is a super important video for all NBA fans to see

[@edoardosimonato]

This must be the best basketball video ever put on youtube, really... congratulations from Italy 🇮🇹

[@winnumber101]

Thanks for this insightful breakdown, Ben-historical adjustments relative to the player’s circumstance seem to be the best way to filter our biases that we seem to build towards certain eras... & CrumpledJumper’s visuals are fantastic-I love reading his nylon calculus articles haha

[@theloccyone]

Everyone at ESPN should be required to watch this.

[@egvhub6230]

Ive read ur whole top 40. Love the videos man. I'm a fan for life. Can't wait for the Jokic video. He's in my top 5 in the league rn Ok more accurately he's in my top ten

[@jordankartchner4090]

Where did you find his top 40?

[@CoolStuff-yr8ye]

@@jordankartchner4090 Type in Backpicks GOAT Top 40 on the internet. He hasn't updated the list, (he gave the newest list on Twitter) but he writes scouting reports for all-time greats and rank s their careers.

[@michaelvick4588]

Jokic has a ways to go. Bron, KD, Steph, Kawhi and Giannis are better than him. Jokic is in the Harden, AD, Embiid bracket. Not top 5.

[@kingfadal4711]

Michael Vick he’s not even in the that level yet. Jokic is in the lillard Kyrie Paul George level

[@jayson008]

@@michaelvick4588 g Harden is top 5

[@thomasdantas]

I've been waiting for someone to make this EXACT video! Always have wondered about this.

[@michaelbland2924]

This was dope. Please keep it up bc I've always liked advanced metrics and historical nba stats. All your vids are fire

[@John6-40]

Every time kids bring up "plumbers" and say today's players are more athletic, I point out the dribbling rules. Easy to look faster when you don't have to dribble "properly".

[@RatelHBadger]

Fantastic video. As always, fantasy sports leaguers just have more fodder to debate who truly is the GOAT. Would Wilt be able to play in the same high impact defensive era of the 80's, would Harden, Curry and Kobe be able to play in the 60's when ball handling limitations were greater... More fuel, more arguments, I love it all!

[@raygivler]

Great stuff. I love the history of traveling and carrying the ball. As a data visualizer and hoops fan, I like this stuff so much that I bought your book. Looking forward to learning more.

[@smokesletsgo8180]

First video I've came across of yous. Awesome video, had to hit subscribe 👍

[@threeteeflee]

I wish we could take every legendary player, and coach, from there best individual season, and have them play out one season to see who the real king is.

[@doodbob2250]

Felt like an episode of Chart Party. You better get an internship at SB at the very least..

[@SoccerFR3AK278]

might be the best video i've ever seen comparing players from different eras. outstanding stuff

[@RealEnglishNow]

As a fellow KZbin or and editor of the many years I want to congratulate you on an outstanding job with this video that I know took a lot of time effort and research and superior editing skills to put together such a fine package that is a joy to watch and learn from. You were doing excellent things my friend please keep it up !

[@RealEnglishNow]

KZbinr*

[@Dubadubadu123]

I think what this video best shows is that a discussion between Jordan and LeBron, or players in different eras in general is simply impossible

[@Bradley2806]

Exactly

[@jjab430]

I think it's possible, it's just a lot more nuanced than comparing pts/rbs/ast and awards.

[@CoolStuff-yr8ye]

Yet the guy who made the video created an all-time career rankings list so he probably would disagree

[@BUDOKAIultimate3]

The GOAT already told yall that....lol

[@soccerlegend7774]

Great video. Can you do one about Steph curry like number behind the 15-16 season or how he revolutionized the game. Steph curry is player you should do video on. Thanks if you do

[@alexandreschmitt7006]

Facts. I'm waiting on a video on Curry too. His 2015-16 season is the greatest I have ever seen. He's still a great player but when you look back at his highlights, it's like he was a totally different player. He looks human nowadays.

[@trans_1997]

Alexandre Schmitt you mean the greatest REGULAR season. He was a disgrace in the playoffs especially in the playoffs.

[@chickenmanoktae]

@@alexandreschmitt7006 Because he was going all-out that regular season in which he and the team paid the price in the playoffs. Now, Steph and the whole Warriors team are just coasting in the regular season. They don't want to make the same mistake again.

[@haydenrubin1663]

@@JokerMarkHamill stfu with that bullshit

[@crazyskar]

Great video , can't wait to watch more of what you put out in this channel.

[@naturenook1]

Never thought about the mid-dribble suspension component of it. Nice informative video!

[@jameslearing970]

How do you combine pts, rebounds and drb% into a single percentage?

[@ThinkingBasketball]

It's a basic linear regression -- the right amount of each predicts triple-double percentage pretty well.

[@emmanuelr710]

Players today jump much higher, shoot far more accurate and run much faster than the past.

[@Portrial]

But the rules are different than the past

[@eli.parker]

These videos have been so enlightening!!! Please key them coming so we can put some perspective on what we are seeing. I wish you could do one (somehow) on number #1 draft Pictor something like that.

[@JammaLamma]

Just watched the Jokic video straight into this one I might binge watch every video on this channel like right now. Best BB channel i ever seen, straight up

[@nicolasmartins5601]

This channel is super interesting. Stats can be really deceiving, creating false narratives as well as over glorifying some and underrating others

[@ThinkingBasketball]

My book is all about that if you haven't already read it: www.amazon.com/Thinking-Basketball-Ben-Taylor/dp/1532968175

[@PTrey]

why does 2006 kobe have #24 and the fro tho?

[@ThinkingBasketball]

Production limitations my friend. :)

[@WangEmHigh831]

I'm glad my friend introduced me to your channel. You always help me shed light a new way on basketball. You're the best basketball channel I've ever watched by a mile

[@rickw1686]

Loved the graphics of all the players in the episode those complimented really well!

[@christophersmith2924]

vsauce but its basketball

[@6SJW6]

I’ll see Charles Barkley wonder how so many older players got more rebounds than him and praise Oscar Robertson so much for his triple double stats. It’s kind of frustrating but I doubt most players put as much thought into statistics as to compare number of possessions across eras.

[@Mrgiftedsoul]

Brilliant work my friend this is some truly informative stuff

[@antoinemerat2220]

Great video! You could also have talked about goal tendings and offensive interfernces + de 14 secondes after an offensive rebound today.

[@GuyoftheStars]

Best basketball channels 1. Basketball Examined 2. Thinking Basketball 3. Dom 2K

[@0401412740]

The economic comparison to basketball made my IQ higher. A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. #inflation

[@tanaraci92]

That has nothing to do with inflation.

[@BoscoTungWaldo]

If they keep printing money, or in basketball terms if league average scoring gets easier and easier.

[@user-li7ce1ex6i]

I really love this account man. Keep at it!!

[@shyhamou4963]

damn u deserve way more subs for the work u put into these videos!!!

[@mannnnnn123456]

So basically MJ is still the best ever. Gotchya

[@PowerGearPerformance]

That what it boils down to

[@RGL211]

Amazing video, thank you. Your hard work and knowledge is evident. Thank you again!

[@773p]

Glad I found this channel, your breakdown is excellent thank you

[@tylermurphy37]

This is a damn good video!! You really opened my eyes to how to look at and compare the star over the years!

[@tylermurphy37]

An whoever the 45 people are that 👎🏽 this video must be retarded.

[@garrettdurr7155]

Thanking you for this video, it gives context to the things you have to consider when you compare basketball players from different eras.

[@BrianKern]

Really great video. I try to make these exact arguments all the time on forums but from now on I'll just link this video.

[@xHibachi24x]

I’ve become a huge fan of your channel. Is this channel all run by you alone? I ask because the amount of work you put into each video does not go unseen!!! I really appreciate your time and effort.

[@evanthomas9007]

Amazing quality. Really appreciate your hoops insight!

[@Reepeet64]

Fantastic analysis! Great insight, statistics, visuals, and overall flow.

[@Luca-yb4sh]

Man, you are great! Fantastic video!

[@neub4321]

Glad you tackled this. I understand inflation adjustments but very little basketball. Love the bobbleheads.

[@cudiveli4690]

The ad annoyed me, but how smooth you transitioned out of it back into the video impressed me. Great video.

[@Bendu731]

Wow this is one of the best basketball videos I've ever seen in comparing different eras!

[@JStem361]

Amazing video. Huge fan of this channel. Well done sir.

[@jazzchromaticdulcimer4223]

Great video, you make such great videos!