The Great Sports Debate
The entire category of...
Hi! I’m Drew. I’m an Analyst. And my job is to help the masses better understand how stats can support, or even uncover, a story.
This article will be a quick one. But more to follow. The final destination is: In 2022, is Nikola Jokic the NBA’s, and the World’s, Best Player?
First, a note about…
Debate and a Sport’s Greatest… Anything
To say that someone leads the NBA in scoring is objective. It is a stat.
To say that someone is the Best Player in the League is subjective. It is the sum of many Data-Driven and non-Data-Driven Insights mixed with the opinions of the person presenting the argument.
And remember this, too, about Sports Debate! There is a certain precedent, and culture to upkeep. In the context of a Sports Debate, it is normal to commit fully to one side — especially about something subjective — and speak with complete confidence about it. Confidence in subjective matters is a huge part of our culture.
That said, here’s where the Sports Debater can actually go wrong.
It is an offense in any debate (incl. Sports) to misinterpret and/or misapply a stat, and/or an unreasonably-derived Insight from that stat. Consistency and clarity is a core component of the Sports Debate. You need to show that you understand the info you invoke in your argument. As long as your argument is coherent and supporting data is used appropriately, you “slide.”
Even if you are making an argument that is not widely held, yes, you stand to absorb plenty of s**t. Perhaps, indeed, that is exactly what you are seeking! But you are still “in the right” as long as your position is coherent and you are not misapplying information like statistics. Interpretation is the art.
That out of the way: Be on the lookout! A deep dive into Nikola Jokic’s case as the NBA’s greatest player is coming up next. UPDATE! Here it is:
Until then…