No Fans, No Problem: An Investigation of Audience Effects on Shooting Performance in Professional Basketball

in Journal of Motor Learning and Development

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Logan T. Markwell Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

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Andrew J. Strick Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

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Jared M. Porter Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2021-0014
Keywords:
environmental characteristics; Olympics; specificity; NBA bubble; free throw
First Published Online:
30 Dec 2021
In Print:
Volume 10: Issue 1
Page Range:
212–223
Restricted access

Sports, along with nearly all facets of life, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Basketball Association quickly adopted a unique method to finish the 2019–2020 regular season and playoffs. The entire league quarantined for months in what was known as the “NBA bubble” where games were played in spectator-less arenas. During this time, increases in shooting accuracy were reported, suggesting that free throws and field goals were made at record-breaking levels. This study examined differences in free throw shooting accuracy with and without spectators. Archival data were retrieved and analyzed to evaluate the potential differences. Free throw shooting accuracy with and without spectators were examined in multiple analyses. Our examination revealed free throw percentages were significantly greater in spectator-less arenas compared with the 2018 and 2019 seasons with spectators. Changes of the environmental characteristics, due to spectator-less arenas, were likely contributors to the improved free throw phenomenon reported in this study.

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