Loading
Teams with the lowest scoring variance — spreading the wealth
| # | Team | Variance | Grade | Top% | 10+ PPG | Top Scorer | 2nd Scorer | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | A+ | 50% | 2 | Kevin Durant(27.1) | Devin Booker(27.1) | 44-28 | |
| 2 | 0.5 | A+ | 51% | 2 | LeBron James(25.7) | Anthony Davis(24.7) | 43-29 | |
| 3 | 1.9 | A+ | 53.9% | 2 | Jayson Tatum(26.9) | Jaylen Brown(23) | 54-18 | |
| 4 | 3 | A | 55.6% | 2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo(30.4) | Damian Lillard(24.3) | 48-24 | |
| 5 | 34.2 | C | 100% | 1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander(30.1) | N/A(0) | 57-15 | |
| 6 | 35.6 | C | 100% | 1 | Donovan Mitchell(26.6) | N/A(0) | 52-20 | |
| 7 | 36.1 | C | 100% | 1 | Jalen Brunson(28.7) | N/A(0) | 50-22 | |
| 8 | 36.1 | C | 100% | 1 | Nikola Jokic(26.4) | N/A(0) | 50-22 | |
| 9 | 36.4 | C | 100% | 1 | Anthony Edwards(25.9) | N/A(0) | 49-23 | |
| 10 | 36.9 | C | 100% | 1 | Luka Doncic(33.9) | N/A(0) | 47-25 |
Balanced teams spread their scoring across multiple contributors, making them harder to game-plan against. When opponents can't focus their defensive attention on a single player, it creates easier looks for everyone. The 2014 Spurs are the gold standard of balanced basketball, winning the championship with five players averaging between 12-21 points per game.
Scoring variance measures the standard deviation of PPG across a team's roster. A lower variance means scoring is spread evenly. A high variance means one player dominates the scoring load while teammates contribute significantly less. Balance doesn't guarantee wins, but it often correlates with roster depth and resilience through an 82-game season.
A balanced NBA team distributes scoring across multiple players rather than relying on one star. This is measured by scoring variance (lower = more balanced), top scorer's share of team points, and the number of players averaging 10+ PPG.
Not necessarily. Some of the best teams in NBA history were star-driven. However, balanced teams tend to be more resilient when facing injuries, load management, or defensive game-planning that targets their best player.
The Phoenix Suns have the lowest scoring variance (0) in the league, earning a A+ balance grade.
Scoring variance is the standard deviation of points per game across a team's tracked roster players. A lower number means scoring is more evenly distributed. A higher number means one or two players dominate the scoring load.