The present study assessed the feasibility of grouping university and professional basketball players across different leagues based on their playing styles to optimize championship team construction, moving beyond traditional positional constraints towards a positionless approach. A comprehensive dataset of 22,500 elite professional and university athletes from 110 leagues, sourced from EuroBasket, RealGM, and USportsHoops, was analyzed. Player performance was quantified using 13 standardized box score statistics converted to per 48 min. Utilizing the k-means algorithm, players were clustered into 9 distinct player archetypes. Multiple linear regression models were then developed for each archetype, predicting "points per minute" to facilitate player ranking, further refined by a data-driven league quality weighting system. Optimal player cluster proportions were derived from analyses of 2018/19 NBA lineups and 2014-2018 international medal-winning teams to create the most effective team line-ups. The model's utility was demonstrated by selecting a hypothetical Team Canada roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, which showed effectiveness in identifying a robust team composition and predicting the rise of future high-potential players. Additionally, the model's effectiveness was evaluated by comparing its results to the composition of the 2000 and 2024 Canadian National Olympic teams. The findings revealed 9 unique player clusters, demonstrating the model's potential as a valuable tool for guiding coaching decisions in drafting and signing future players to fit their roster composition effectively. The model proved to be a novel method for talent identification due to its evaluation of players across leagues and its usage of readily accessible data for coaches and scouts alike. Despite limitations related to data sources and subjective weighting, this research provides a sophisticated analytical tool for players, coaches, scouts, and general managers, offering a comprehensive league strength metric and a nuanced player ranking system to enhance roster development alongside the expertise of coaches in the evolving global basketball landscape.
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