Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part H (2025)

Research Purpose: This study aimed to identify and interpret the key anthropometric determinants that distinguish national-level Indian basketball players across three positional roles Point Guards (PG), Shooting Guards (SG), and Centers (C). The research sought to establish how specific physical attributes contribute to positional specialization and can serve as objective indicators for talent identification and player classification in elite basketball.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was implemented with 60 male national-level basketball players (20 per position), aged 20-25 years. Anthropometric measurements height, arm span, leg length, and palm span were collected following standardized protocols using a stadiometer and flexible measuring tape. Each measurement was recorded twice, and mean values were used for accuracy. Statistical analyses included One-Way ANOVA and Welch’s test (p<0.05), performed using IBM SPSS 26.
Results: The analysis revealed significant positional variations in height (F=20.72, p<.001), arm span (F=5.60, P=.006), and leg length (F=6.86, P=.002), while palm span showed no significant differences (p>.05). Centers demonstrated superior body dimensions overall, while guards presented compact morphologies suited for agility and speed. The span-to-height ratio (106%) reflected an extended reach advantage typical of elite basketball players.
Conclusion: The study establishes that specific anthropometric traits act as discriminating indicators among positional roles, highlighting height, arm span, and leg length as the most influential variables in determining positional suitability. These findings extend prior descriptive work by providing an interpretive basis for data-driven talent identification and role allocation within Indian basketball. Future research should integrate biomotor and skill-related parameters to construct comprehensive player classification models.