Computing correlations...

NBA Stat Correlations

Which NBA stats correlate with each other? Pearson correlation coefficients across 10 statistical categories for 20 current players. Green = positive correlation, red = negative.

Scale:Strong +Moderate +WeakModerate -Strong -

Full Correlation Matrix

	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	MPG	TOPG
PPG	1.00	0.41	-0.05	0.10	0.23	0.30	0.06	0.00	0.20	0.45
RPG	0.41	1.00	-0.15	-0.01	0.77	0.80	-0.46	-0.33	0.13	0.12
APG	-0.05	-0.15	1.00	0.01	-0.37	-0.10	0.08	0.02	-0.03	0.51
SPG	0.10	-0.01	0.01	1.00	-0.02	0.11	-0.11	-0.18	0.12	-0.14
BPG	0.23	0.77	-0.37	-0.02	1.00	0.66	-0.39	-0.04	0.08	-0.13
FG%	0.30	0.80	-0.10	0.11	0.66	1.00	-0.38	-0.47	0.12	-0.01
3P%	0.06	-0.46	0.08	-0.11	-0.39	-0.38	1.00	0.48	0.10	0.12
FT%	0.00	-0.33	0.02	-0.18	-0.04	-0.47	0.48	1.00	-0.06	-0.15
MPG	0.20	0.13	-0.03	0.12	0.08	0.12	0.10	-0.06	1.00	0.14
TOPG	0.45	0.12	0.51	-0.14	-0.13	-0.01	0.12	-0.15	0.14	1.00

Top 5 Positive Correlations

#	Stat Pair	r	Interpretation
1	RPG vs FG%	0.795	Strong positive
2	RPG vs BPG	0.767	Strong positive
3	BPG vs FG%	0.661	Moderate positive
4	APG vs TOPG	0.510	Moderate positive
5	3P% vs FT%	0.478	Moderate positive

PPG leaders also lead in MPG

Top scorers play the most minutes, confirming that scoring volume correlates with playing time.

Joel Embiid (34.7 PPG / 33.6 MPG)Luka Doncic (33.9 PPG / 36.2 MPG)Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4 PPG / 35.2 MPG)

Top 5 Negative Correlations

#	Stat Pair	r	Interpretation
1	FG% vs FT%	-0.470	Moderate negative
2	RPG vs 3P%	-0.458	Moderate negative
3	BPG vs 3P%	-0.394	Weak negative
4	FG% vs 3P%	-0.384	Weak negative
5	APG vs BPG	-0.368	Weak negative

Surprising Findings

Assists and Turnovers

APG and TOPG have a correlation of 0.510. High-assist players turn the ball over more because they handle it more.

Tyrese Haliburton (10.9A / 2.3TO)Trae Young (10.8A / 4.4TO)Luka Doncic (9.8A / 4TO)

Rebounds and Blocks

RPG and BPG correlate at 0.767. Rim protectors who block shots also control the boards.

Anthony Davis (12.6R / 2.3B)Nikola Jokic (12.4R / 0.9B)Joel Embiid (11R / 1.7B)

FG% and 3P%

FG% and 3P% show a correlation of -0.384. Three-point shooting and overall field goal percentage may diverge because bigs have high FG% but low 3P%.

All 45 Stat Pairs Ranked by Strength

#	Stat 1	Stat 2	Correlation (r)	Strength
1	RPG	FG%	0.795	Strong
2	RPG	BPG	0.767	Strong
3	BPG	FG%	0.661	Moderate
4	APG	TOPG	0.510	Moderate
5	3P%	FT%	0.478	Moderate
6	FG%	FT%	-0.470	Moderate
7	RPG	3P%	-0.458	Moderate
8	PPG	TOPG	0.447	Moderate
9	PPG	RPG	0.413	Moderate
10	BPG	3P%	-0.394	Weak
11	FG%	3P%	-0.384	Weak
12	APG	BPG	-0.368	Weak
13	RPG	FT%	-0.326	Weak
14	PPG	FG%	0.305	Weak
15	PPG	BPG	0.230	Weak
16	PPG	MPG	0.203	Weak
17	SPG	FT%	-0.180	Weak
18	RPG	APG	-0.154	Weak
19	FT%	TOPG	-0.146	Weak
20	MPG	TOPG	0.138	Weak
21	SPG	TOPG	-0.136	Weak
22	BPG	TOPG	-0.134	Weak
23	RPG	MPG	0.132	Weak
24	3P%	TOPG	0.124	Weak
25	RPG	TOPG	0.120	Weak
26	FG%	MPG	0.119	Weak
27	SPG	MPG	0.118	Weak
28	SPG	FG%	0.111	Weak
29	SPG	3P%	-0.106	Weak
30	3P%	MPG	0.105	Weak
31	PPG	SPG	0.101	Weak
32	APG	FG%	-0.098	None
33	BPG	MPG	0.083	None
34	APG	3P%	0.078	None
35	FT%	MPG	-0.062	None
36	PPG	3P%	0.055	None
37	PPG	APG	-0.048	None
38	BPG	FT%	-0.042	None
39	APG	MPG	-0.031	None
40	SPG	BPG	-0.017	None
41	APG	FT%	0.016	None
42	FG%	TOPG	-0.011	None
43	APG	SPG	0.010	None
44	RPG	SPG	-0.006	None
45	PPG	FT%	0.000	None

Understanding NBA Stat Correlations

Statistical correlations reveal the hidden relationships between different aspects of basketball performance. A Pearson correlation coefficient (r) ranges from -1 (perfect negative correlation) to +1 (perfect positive correlation), with 0 indicating no linear relationship.

The most intuitive correlation is between points per game and minutes per game — players who score more tend to play more minutes, either because their scoring ability earns them more time or because more minutes create more scoring opportunities. This is consistently one of the strongest positive correlations across any NBA sample.

The assists-to-turnovers correlation is one of the most fascinating findings in basketball analytics. Players who create the most assists also commit the most turnovers because both stats are driven by the same underlying factor: ball-handling volume. A playmaker who initiates dozens of passes per game will inevitably make some errant ones.

Why Correlations Matter

Understanding correlations helps teams evaluate players more accurately. If a player has high assists but high turnovers, the correlation data suggests this is expected rather than alarming. Similarly, a center with high blocks and high rebounds is conforming to the statistical norm for rim protectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Pearson correlation coefficient measure?

The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) measures the linear relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1 to +1, where +1 is a perfect positive correlation, -1 is a perfect negative correlation, and 0 indicates no linear relationship.

What is considered a strong correlation in basketball stats?

In basketball analytics, r >= 0.7 is considered strong, 0.4-0.7 is moderate, and below 0.4 is weak. Even moderate correlations can be meaningful due to the many confounding variables in basketball.

Why do assists and turnovers correlate positively?

Both assists and turnovers are driven by ball-handling volume. Players who initiate more passes and offensive actions will naturally create more assists but also have more opportunities for turnovers.

How many players are used in this analysis?

This analysis uses 20 current NBA players from the CourtVision database. The correlations reflect the current season's statistical relationships.

NBA Stat Correlations

Which NBA stats correlate with each other? Pearson correlation coefficients across 10 statistical categories for 20 current players. Green = positive correlation, red = negative.

Scale:Strong +Moderate +WeakModerate -Strong -

Full Correlation Matrix

	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	MPG	TOPG
PPG	1.00	0.41	-0.05	0.10	0.23	0.30	0.06	0.00	0.20	0.45
RPG	0.41	1.00	-0.15	-0.01	0.77	0.80	-0.46	-0.33	0.13	0.12
APG	-0.05	-0.15	1.00	0.01	-0.37	-0.10	0.08	0.02	-0.03	0.51
SPG	0.10	-0.01	0.01	1.00	-0.02	0.11	-0.11	-0.18	0.12	-0.14
BPG	0.23	0.77	-0.37	-0.02	1.00	0.66	-0.39	-0.04	0.08	-0.13
FG%	0.30	0.80	-0.10	0.11	0.66	1.00	-0.38	-0.47	0.12	-0.01
3P%	0.06	-0.46	0.08	-0.11	-0.39	-0.38	1.00	0.48	0.10	0.12
FT%	0.00	-0.33	0.02	-0.18	-0.04	-0.47	0.48	1.00	-0.06	-0.15
MPG	0.20	0.13	-0.03	0.12	0.08	0.12	0.10	-0.06	1.00	0.14
TOPG	0.45	0.12	0.51	-0.14	-0.13	-0.01	0.12	-0.15	0.14	1.00

Top 5 Positive Correlations

#	Stat Pair	r	Interpretation
1	RPG vs FG%	0.795	Strong positive
2	RPG vs BPG	0.767	Strong positive
3	BPG vs FG%	0.661	Moderate positive
4	APG vs TOPG	0.510	Moderate positive
5	3P% vs FT%	0.478	Moderate positive

PPG leaders also lead in MPG

Top scorers play the most minutes, confirming that scoring volume correlates with playing time.

Joel Embiid (34.7 PPG / 33.6 MPG)Luka Doncic (33.9 PPG / 36.2 MPG)Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4 PPG / 35.2 MPG)

Top 5 Negative Correlations

#	Stat Pair	r	Interpretation
1	FG% vs FT%	-0.470	Moderate negative
2	RPG vs 3P%	-0.458	Moderate negative
3	BPG vs 3P%	-0.394	Weak negative
4	FG% vs 3P%	-0.384	Weak negative
5	APG vs BPG	-0.368	Weak negative

Surprising Findings

Assists and Turnovers

APG and TOPG have a correlation of 0.510. High-assist players turn the ball over more because they handle it more.

Tyrese Haliburton (10.9A / 2.3TO)Trae Young (10.8A / 4.4TO)Luka Doncic (9.8A / 4TO)

Rebounds and Blocks

RPG and BPG correlate at 0.767. Rim protectors who block shots also control the boards.

Anthony Davis (12.6R / 2.3B)Nikola Jokic (12.4R / 0.9B)Joel Embiid (11R / 1.7B)

FG% and 3P%

FG% and 3P% show a correlation of -0.384. Three-point shooting and overall field goal percentage may diverge because bigs have high FG% but low 3P%.

All 45 Stat Pairs Ranked by Strength

#	Stat 1	Stat 2	Correlation (r)	Strength
1	RPG	FG%	0.795	Strong
2	RPG	BPG	0.767	Strong
3	BPG	FG%	0.661	Moderate
4	APG	TOPG	0.510	Moderate
5	3P%	FT%	0.478	Moderate
6	FG%	FT%	-0.470	Moderate
7	RPG	3P%	-0.458	Moderate
8	PPG	TOPG	0.447	Moderate
9	PPG	RPG	0.413	Moderate
10	BPG	3P%	-0.394	Weak
11	FG%	3P%	-0.384	Weak
12	APG	BPG	-0.368	Weak
13	RPG	FT%	-0.326	Weak
14	PPG	FG%	0.305	Weak
15	PPG	BPG	0.230	Weak
16	PPG	MPG	0.203	Weak
17	SPG	FT%	-0.180	Weak
18	RPG	APG	-0.154	Weak
19	FT%	TOPG	-0.146	Weak
20	MPG	TOPG	0.138	Weak
21	SPG	TOPG	-0.136	Weak
22	BPG	TOPG	-0.134	Weak
23	RPG	MPG	0.132	Weak
24	3P%	TOPG	0.124	Weak
25	RPG	TOPG	0.120	Weak
26	FG%	MPG	0.119	Weak
27	SPG	MPG	0.118	Weak
28	SPG	FG%	0.111	Weak
29	SPG	3P%	-0.106	Weak
30	3P%	MPG	0.105	Weak
31	PPG	SPG	0.101	Weak
32	APG	FG%	-0.098	None
33	BPG	MPG	0.083	None
34	APG	3P%	0.078	None
35	FT%	MPG	-0.062	None
36	PPG	3P%	0.055	None
37	PPG	APG	-0.048	None
38	BPG	FT%	-0.042	None
39	APG	MPG	-0.031	None
40	SPG	BPG	-0.017	None
41	APG	FT%	0.016	None
42	FG%	TOPG	-0.011	None
43	APG	SPG	0.010	None
44	RPG	SPG	-0.006	None
45	PPG	FT%	0.000	None

Understanding NBA Stat Correlations

Why Correlations Matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Pearson correlation coefficient measure?

What is considered a strong correlation in basketball stats?

In basketball analytics, r >= 0.7 is considered strong, 0.4-0.7 is moderate, and below 0.4 is weak. Even moderate correlations can be meaningful due to the many confounding variables in basketball.

Why do assists and turnovers correlate positively?

How many players are used in this analysis?

This analysis uses 20 current NBA players from the CourtVision database. The correlations reflect the current season's statistical relationships.

NBA Stat Correlations

Full Correlation Matrix

Top 5 Positive Correlations

PPG leaders also lead in MPG

Top 5 Negative Correlations

Surprising Findings

Assists and Turnovers

Rebounds and Blocks

FG% and 3P%

All 45 Stat Pairs Ranked by Strength

Understanding NBA Stat Correlations

Why Correlations Matter

Frequently Asked Questions

See Also

NBA Stat Correlations

Full Correlation Matrix

Top 5 Positive Correlations

PPG leaders also lead in MPG

Top 5 Negative Correlations

Surprising Findings

Assists and Turnovers

Rebounds and Blocks

FG% and 3P%

All 45 Stat Pairs Ranked by Strength

Understanding NBA Stat Correlations

Why Correlations Matter

Frequently Asked Questions

See Also