Beyond the Road Trip: Investigating the Impact of Travel Fatigue on NBA Team Performance

This paper investigates the impact of travel fatigue on NBA player performance. In this paper we will look at key variables such as back-to-back games and long-distance travel. By using specific team by team data on factors like game results, travel distance, and rest days. This study examined how specific factors like time zone shifts and travel length influences winning percentage and player efficiency. This paper will also show a regression analysis and visual data to back up results using real life data. The results showed that team performance decreased significantly when teams were at a higher rate of travel as well as the biggest outlier which was playing back-to-back games. These results will prove why there needs to be a more efficient schedule in the NBA not only for team performance and game quality but for players' physical and mental health.