Investigation of the performance levels of the players who played in the guard position in euroleague basketball competitions between 2016-2022

The aim of this study is to examine the performance levels of players in the Guard position in Euroleague basketball games between 2016 and 2022. In Euroleague, which is the most established and prestigious organization of basketball in Europe, the performance levels of players in the Guard position and their contributions to team success in high-tempo games at this level are being investigated. Players in the Guard position are responsible for managing the offensive alternatives of their teams. Their duties include bringing the basketball to the offensive half-court and organizing the game. Generally, the best players in terms of cutting and passing are assigned to these positions. Guards are also tasked with stopping the fast breaks of the opposing team, organizing set plays, and defending the dribbling players of the opposing team. In this context, it is believed that the performance levels of players in this position are important in modern basketball. In today's fast-paced and high-tempo basketball, the importance of players in the Guard position, who ensure the organization and game setup on the court, has increased. Due to the difficulty of coaches intervening in the game from the sidelines, players in the Guard position are considered one of the most important parts of the team for playing team basketball and directing other players on the court. It is believed that players in the point guard and shooting guard positions in today's basketball make significant contributions to their teams in achieving their pre-season goals with their performances in high-level basketball organizations. The statistical performance evaluations of players in the Guard position throughout the Euroleague season are thought to reflect the importance of these player groups for the team. In the literature, the statistical data of games played by players in the Guard position in the Euroleague, which is considered the highest level of basketball in Europe, between 2016 and 2022 were analyzed to investigate their importance for their teams and their contributions in this context. In our study, SPSS 22 software was used for the analysis of the findings, and G*Power (version 3.1.9.4) was used to determine the sample size. The research concluded that there was a significant difference (p<0.005) in the average points, 2-point, 3-point, and free throw averages. The results indicated that the differences in the findings could be attributed to factors such as the athletic performance levels of the players, injury status, transfers, and playing time.