Citius, altius, fortius; is it enough to achieve success in basketball?

Abstract

The NBA Draft Combine includes a series of standardized measurements and drills that provide NBA teams with an opportunity to evaluate players. The purpose of this research was to identify the Combine tests that explain draft position and future performance in the NBA rookie season. Variables were selected from the previous categories of anthropometric measurements and strength and agility tests. A regression analysis was carried out. Combine variables, anthropometric and agility/strength variables were analyzed to explore their effect on draft position. Moreover, correlation analyses were performed to identify relationships among: (i) Combine anthropometric and strength and agility measures and game performance through game related statistics; and (ii) the draft position and game performance using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results show that the Combine test does not predict draft position, with the exception of hand width and height in frontcourt players, and standard vertical jump and running vertical jump. Future performance indicators were explained by several Combine tests in all players.