Visualization of NBA points per game vs. salary

[jsoma]

I found NBA player salaries on ESPN's site, and I'd like to link it with some performance data. I'm certain Stephen Curry is underpaid for how many points he scores per game.

It would be like this chart (but MUCH NICER) but with salary on the y-axis and points on the x-axis

I need data for NBA player performance though.

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[jsoma]

Great idea! I found some data on per-player performance right over here which looks pretty good.

Points-per-game isn't the best or only metric to judge someone, though, maybe you could provide a few different scatterplots and compare them?

Fivethirtyeight has done a lot of talking about Steph Curry, maybe you can get some ideas by looking at this piece: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/stephen-curry-is-the-revolution/

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[jsoma]

Thanks, and yeah, that data looks great! It's probably all I need.

A few different charts is a really good idea. Maybe I'll add a few more in like blocks and fouls, "See who's is getting paid the most to foul other members of the NBA?" could be a good headline.

I'll go interview some basketball fanatics to get their points of view, too, since basketball isn't really my strong suit.

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[jsoma]

Looks good! I think this could go in a lot of different directions, so you might want to bring some more people in on the project with you. You could spin it into a whole series if you wanted!

Even though it's gotten a little more vague since the initial proposal I'm going to approve this, you can work it out in the story issue.

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[jsoma]

Now that the story has been opened at #2 I'm going to close this.

[jsoma]

Pitch issue checklist

• My pitch issue has [Pitch] in the title
• My pitch issue has [Data request] in the title if I need additional data
• My pitch issue links to my data set
• My pitch issue explains what I'd like to explore in the data set
• My pitch issue includes multiple possible headlines
• My pitch issue includes appropriate labels in the title such as [Pitch] and maybe [Data Request]
• I have received two comments of peer feedback on my pitch issue
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• My pitch has been approved