Yang Yang,
Quincy R. Johnson,
Angeleau A. Scott,
Dimitrije Cabarkapa,
Andrew C. Fry
<jats:sec> Introduction Although wheelchair basketball (WCB) is one of the most popular Paralympic sports, limited research has focused on sports performance and strength and conditioning within the sport. The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the relationship between upper-body muscular strength, power, and shooting accuracy in WCB athletes and their non-disabled recreational basketball players participating in WCB. </jats:sec> <jats:sec> Methods Twenty athletes participated in the present study, of whom ten were WCB athletes and ten were healthy college-aged recreational basketball athletes. Upper-body muscular strength and power were evaluated using bilateral handgrip strength (HGS) and the Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test (SMBT). Shooting accuracy was assessed through ten standardized 2-point field-goal attempts taken from a 5.10-meter distance. Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to examine associations between variables, depending on data normality, while independent t-tests were used to examine between-group differences. </jats:sec> <jats:sec> Results Significantly strong positive correlations were observed between HGS, SMBT distance, and shooting accuracy in WCB athletes ( ρ = 0.73–0.85, p ≤ 0.02), while non-WCB athletes displayed weak nonsignificant correlations (r ≤ 0.30, p ≥ 0.40). Between-group comparisons revealed significantly lower HGS in WCB athletes ( p &lt; 0.02, g &gt; 0.8), while no differences were found for SMBT or shooting accuracy. </jats:sec> <jats:sec> Conclusion While strength contributes to shooting performance, the findings of this study indicate that it is not the sole determinant of success. Non-disabled participants did not perform better in shooting accuracy than WCB athletes, despite the biomechanical advantage conferred by higher stature, underscoring the importance of sport-specific skill and coordination. Ultimately, shooting performance depends on integrating refined technique, experience, and strength. </jats:sec>
2026,
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Dimitrije Cabarkapa,
Damjana V. Cabarkapa,
Andrew C. Fry
Despite the growing recognition of 3-point proficiency as a defining element of modern basketball success, relatively few studies using markerless motion capture technology have examined the biomechanical characteristics that influence long-distance shooting effectiveness. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate differences in biomechanical characteristics between proficient and non-proficient 3-point shooters during both the preparatory and release phases of the shooting motion. Twenty-four male basketball players participated in this study, of which eleven were classified as proficient (≥50%) and thirteen as non-proficient shooters (&lt;50%). Following a standardized warm-up, each participant attempted ten non-consecutive 3-point shots (6.75 m) from the top of the key. Biomechanical data were collected using a three-dimensional markerless motion capture system operating at 120 Hz. Between-group differences were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests and independent t-tests, depending on weather the variable violated or met the assumption of normality ( p &lt; 0.05). Proficient shooters exhibited greater hip, knee, and ankle flexion ( g &gt; 1.694), resulting in a lower center of mass, as well as higher peak ( r = 0.585) and mean hip angular velocities ( g = 1.146) compared to their non-proficient counterparts during the preparatory phase of the shooting motion (large effect sizes). They also initiated the 3-point shooting motion with a wider stance, suggesting a more stable base, although stance alignment did not differ significantly between groups. No significant differences were observed in kinematic variables at the time point of the ball release, as both groups displayed similar values (e.g., jump height, release height). Collectively, these findings suggest that the success of a 3-point shot is primarily determined by biomechanical adjustments made during the preparatory phase, which provide the foundation for effective shot execution.
2026,
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Dimitrije Cabarkapa,
Damjana V. Cabarkapa,
Paul Comfort,
Andrew C. Fry
Abstract Cabarkapa, D, Cabarkapa, DV, Comfort, P, and Fry, AC. NBA-drafted vs. non-drafted basketball players: A comparative analysis of neuromuscular performance characteristics. <jats:italic toggle="yes">J Strength Cond Res 40(6): 689–694, 2026—The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences in lower-body neuromuscular performance characteristics between National Basketball Association (NBA)-drafted and non-drafted professional male basketball players. Eighty-six athletes volunteered to participate in this study, from which 10 were NBA first or second round draft picks, and the remaining 76 were nondrafted athletes playing at various professional basketball leagues across Europe. Each athlete performed 2 countermovement vertical jumps (CMJs) with no arm swing while standing on a dual uniaxial force plate system sampling at 1,000 Hz. Twenty-four force-time metrics were included in the analysis, within both braking (i.e., eccentric) and propulsive (i.e., concentric) phases of the CMJ. Independent-sample <jats:italic toggle="yes">t -tests were used to determine statistically significant between-group differences ( <jats:italic toggle="yes">p < 0.05), whereas Cohen's <jats:italic toggle="yes">d was used to determine difference magnitudes. Overall, the findings indicate that NBA-drafted athletes displayed considerably greater force and power-producing capabilities when compared with their non-drafted counterparts, when expressed in absolute terms, such as mean braking force (1,016.4 ± 79.6 vs. 913.8 ± 93.1 N), peak braking power (2,151.7 ± 576.1 vs. 1,709.9 ± 525.9 W), mean propulsive force (2,183.2 ± 275.7 vs. 1,977.3 ± 215.5 N), and peak propulsive power (5,719.3 ± 699.3 vs. 5,139.9 ± 607.2 W). However, when expressed relative to body mass, no differences were observed in any of the aforementioned metrics, with no difference in jump height (37.3 ± 5.3 vs. 37.2 ± 4.8 cm) and reactive strength index-modified (0.554 ± 0.078 vs. 0.536 ± 0.099). In addition, time-to-takeoff, countermovement depth, and braking and propulsive phase durations were all similar in magnitude between the groups ( <jats:italic toggle="yes">d = 0.019–0.148), suggesting that both used similar jump strategies.
2026,
Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, № 6, p. 689-694
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