Above Average

The NBA is full of both stars and busts, but the players that often receive the least amount of recognition are the ones that are simply seen as “average”. Above Average takes an in-depth look into the 2024/25 NBA season, scrubbing stats from databases to set a baseline for average. I made a shortlist of players that accrue enough “points” for being average in each stat. However, when utilizing advanced metrics like LEBRON and RAPM for a more in-depth look into their performance, each player ends up being much more interesting than the baseline would lead you to believe. Through data visualization and information design, many players are shown to be underrepresented on defense, are not paid what they’re worth, or contribute less because they don’t play enough minutes. Although players might seem completely average at first glance, Above Average proves that they’re more than what the box score says.