It's Not All About Talent

It's Not All About Talent

SOURCE: http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/nba-draft-2018-picks-owed-history-trades-rumors-news-lakers-celtics-cavs-sixers/uyp92t2ujzqh1y1z01ub8db77

The economic principle I’m exploring is “Because of scarcity, people choose. All choices have an opportunity cost.”

 My research question to help me study the economic principle is “How do coaches/GMs choose the “most valuable” player for their teams when picking in the draft? What key factors them more valuable than another player?

The article published in “Basketball Coach’s Corner” titled “What NBA Scouts Look for in Basketball Players 20 and Younger” demonstrates this economic principle because it shows what main factors scouts tend look for in a player and how these factors make them more “valuable”. Expert scout Ryan Carr was interviewed, where he addresses four key things he looks for when evaluating players.

 Carr says that the first thing he looks for is skill. This is what catches his eye above anything else, and while it is definitely not a determining factor, it is the most important in his eyes. I would have to agree with this, because no matter what player you’re dealing with, individual skill tends basis of how good they are. It all starts with their skill level. Without skill, it is hard to do almost anything in basketball, even if it’s something as simple as passing the ball or setting a screen. Even the small things like these need to be done well and properly to provide efficient base for any player. Take Steph Curry for example. It is not often where you hear people talking about his size or quickness, or how good of a team player he is. When people say “he’s good” they look at his stats - three point percentage, ball handling, dunks, shooting under pressure, etc. Carr does not mention anything about value, but it can be inferred that he believes these specific things are what gives a player the most “worth” or value.

 Second, Carr says he looks for athleticism. This includes a variety of things, he mentions, such as speed, quickness, strength, potential, size, and what they can do with their size. I think these all are very important. Take Spud Webb for example - he was one of the shortest players to ever play in the NBA, at a laughing 5’7”, yet he could still dunk and had other things such as speed, agility, and stamina, all of which he became massively famous for. While he definitely didn’t have size, what he could do with that size was amazing, which largely contributed to his success. Needless to say, while athletic players are definitely appealing, they still need to have a good amount of skill to really catch a scout’s eye. It won’t matter if they are the biggest player in the world when they can’t score in the post, or if they are the quickest player but can’t handle the ball or play proper defense.

 Carr also says that another key factor he looks for is basketball IQ, simply meaning how well a player understands the game. Can he adapt to different situations that are thrown at him, such as a double team or a pick and roll? Can he make the right plays/decisions at the right time, based on the other team’s defense and strengths/weaknesses? Does he have good awareness and move around the court well? These are only a few of the many questions that can be asked regarding basketball IQ. Carr says that for him, a player’s basketball IQ “is a player’s ability to limit mistakes”; and limiting mistakes is all going to come from how well they understand the game. I think basketball IQ is debatably just as, if not more, valuable than skill. A player doesn’t need to be able to shoot or drive or score when they can make good plays and easily set up their teammates to do the same. Personally, I would take a smart player over a skilled player.

 The last thing Carr mentions is sportsmanship. While I do believe this is very important, I believe it is the least important of the four. No one likes a cocky player, but look at LeBron James - the most successful and arguably best basketball player in the world, who has almost no sportsmanship. Yet any team in the NBA would still pay millions to get their hands on LeBron, any chance they get. Why? Because he has the most skill, the most athleticism, and the highest basketball IQ in the league - all of the other factors that were mentioned on this list. These are what truly makes him as valuable as he is. Although needless to say, a player with good sportsmanship definitely makes them more appealing. Their ability to handle adversity, remain calm under pressure, and maintain composure all contribute to their worth - just not nearly as much as the other factors mentioned.

 In my next blog post I will research: What is the main determining factor(s) when teams decide to trade players and how do they assess their overall value to the team? (For example, do they choose based on current roster, how much money they will make, the things mentioned above, or other factors)?