Bradley Beal Tops NBA in Shoe-Tying Time, Unique Stat Reveals!

NBA commentator Zach Lowe has a unique perspective on basketball. Recently, on a Friday, he sparked curiosity among his followers on X (previously known as Twitter) with an intriguing question: why does Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns have to tie his shoelaces so frequently during games?

This question from Lowe might just pave the way for a novel advanced statistic in sports analytics.

Lowe mused on X, “Why do Bradley Beal’s shoes keep coming undone several times each game? It’s something that a diligent media member should look into. Surely, he must be leading the league in the number of times he ties his shoes during a game, calculated per 36 minutes.”

Following Lowe’s call to action, Todd Whitehead, an analyst at Synergy Sports, took up the challenge. Synergy Sports is a company that specializes in basketball data and analytics, using both human analysis and automated camera systems to track and record player movements in around 75,000 basketball games annually. This data helps in analyzing play types, player behaviors, and specific in-game scenarios.

Whitehead found data that confirmed Beal indeed spends more time than any other NBA player this season tying his shoes.

To determine the top shoe-tiers in the league, Whitehead utilized tracking data to identify moments when players’ thumbs were near their ankles.

“For those curious, I am using skeletal player-tracking data to detect instances when a player’s thumbs are near his ankles,” Whitehead explained on his X account. “This usually indicates they are tying their shoes, or potentially adjusting their socks.”

The world of advanced statistics in sports continues to evolve in interesting and sometimes quirky ways. Who knows, perhaps there will soon be a season-long award for the player who keeps their shoes tied the longest. And for frequent shoe-tiers like Beal? Perhaps a new pair of sneakers might be in order.

More of the Latest Around the NBA