The Effects of Spectators on National Basketball Association Free Throw Performance

• DOI: 10.1123/jmld.2023-0023
• Publication Date: 2023-11-14T10:13:08Z
• Authors: Logan T. Markwell; Harjiv Singh; Andrew J. Strick; Jared M. Porter
• Keywords: Basketball; Association (psychology)

Free throw shooting percentage has averaged around 75% for nearly five decades. However, free percentages significantly increased to 79% during the 2020 spectator-less National Basketball Association season. The current study investigated if elevated observed season returned 50-year average now that spectators have arenas. Moreover, home and away were examined determine a potential home-field advantage contributed this phenomenon. Analyses revealed from was higher than two spectator-filled seasons preceding following Furthermore, analyses found no differences in between games. While season, (i.e., ∼75%), Additionally, it does not appear perceived influenced performance Multiple factors likely phenomenon, including environmental characteristics shaped by lack of spectators.